St. Louis Benefit Services - "We Protect What You Build"

1.	To Add a Spouse (Marriage)? Your “spouse” is your legal partner in marriage by a civil or religious ceremony performed in accordance with the laws of the state in which you reside. For the purposes of the Plan, “spouse” does not include a common law spouse status. To add a spouse to your Health and Welfare coverage, you are required to complete an Enrollment Form, Beneficiary Designation Form, Verification Form for the Spousal Coverage Program and HIPAA Authorization Form. Under certain circumstances, a marriage license may be required. Please note: When multiple beneficiaries are not designated as either primary or secondary, all beneficiaries listed are primary by default.
2.	To Add a Dependent Child/Children? Newborn: To add a newborn child, you need to complete an Enrollment Form. Under certain circumstances, a birth certificate may be required. Natural Child(ren): To add your natural children, you need to complete an Enrollment Form. If you are divorced or legally separated from your children’s other parent, a copy of the complete divorce/legal separation papers are required to determine medical responsibility for the children. In the event of a natural parent’s death, a copy of a certified death certificate would be required. Step-Child(ren): To add step-children, you need to complete and submit an Enrollment Form. If your step-child is covered under the health plan of either natural parent, the Carpenters' Plan coverage of your step-child will be secondary to the natural parent's plan. If the natural parent has no other coverage, the Carpenters' Plan will be the primary payer. In the event of a natural parent's death, a copy of a certified death certificate would be required. Adoption: To add an adopted child, you need to complete an Enrollment Form and submit a copy of the child’s adoption papers. An adopted child can be added once placed into the home. In this case, we need a copy of the placement papers (from the courts) until the adoption is finalized. Guardianship: To add a guardian child, you need to complete an Enrollment Form and submit a copy of the legal guardianship papers (from the courts). You must be the court-appointed legal guardian of that child. Adult Dependent Children (Age 19 & Over): Dependent categories listed above may continue coverage under the Plan from age of 19 up to age 26 provided the adult child meets the definition of an eligible dependent according to the Plan and the member is eligible for coverage. Also, since the Plan qualifies as a Grandfathered Plan* under the law, adult children are NOT eligible for coverage if they have access to to group health coverage through their employer or their spouse's employer. To continue coverage beyond age 19 for currently covered dependents, a Certification Form for Adult Child Coverage will be sent to the member approximately one month prior to the currently covered dependent child's 19th birthday. Handicapped Child(ren): If a child is dependent on you for support because of a physical or mental disability and is not capable of self-sustaining employment, they can remain covered under the Plan beyond the age of 26. Please contact the Benefit Plans Office and they will send you an Attending Physician’s Statement of Total Disability to be completed by you and your dependent’s Attending Physician. A disabled child may be covered by the Plan as long as he or she remains incapacitated and financially dependent upon you, provided you submit proof of disability and dependency when requested.
3.	When my Spouse’s Employment Status Changes? If your spouse’s employment status changes (affecting group health coverage), a Verification Form for the Spousal Coverage Program needs to be completed and returned to our office as soon as possible.
4.	To Remove a Spouse (Legal Separation or Divorce)? Upon legal separation or divorce, the Plan must be notified to remove a spouse from coverage. A copy of the legal separation court document or divorce papers is required. Your spouse (and any step-children) will be removed from coverage on the last day of the month in which your divorce or legal separation is finalized. In order for your ex-spouse (and any step-children) to be eilgible for COBRA continuation coverage, notification to the Plan must be done within 60 days of the date of divorce or legal separation. If your spouse was appointed as your beneficiary, we encourage you to complete a new Beneficiary Designation Form and HIPAA Authorization Form. We have provided samples of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) which discusses division of pension benefits - Pre-Retirement QDRO, Post-Retirement QDRO and a QDRO checklist. You should contact the Carpenters’ Pension Department to find out if additional information is required.
5.	To Process Benefits when a Member, Spouse or Dependent dies? Member The Benefit Plans Office requires a certified copy of the member's death certificate in order for the beneficiary to obtain the member’s life insurance benefit. The certified death certificate is also required for self-pay refunds (if applicable), possible vacation benefits, surviving dependent’s benefits, and for the Pension Department to process any benefits due under the Pension Plan. You should contact the Carpenters’ Pension Office to find out if they need any additional information. Please note: When multiple beneficiaries are not designated as either primary or secondary, all beneficiaries listed are considered primary by default. Spouse* The Benefit Plans Office requires a certified copy of the spouse's death certificate in order for the beneficiary to obtain the spouse’s life insurance benefit. The certified death certificate is also used by the Pension Department to process Pension information. If your deceased spouse was the beneficiary of your life insurance benefit, you will need to appoint a new beneficiary. Please complete a new Beneficiary Designation Form and HIPAA Authorization Form for yourself. Also, please contact the Carpenters’ Pension Office to find out if they need any additional information. Dependent Children* The Benefit Plans Office requires a certified copy of the dependent child's death certificate in order for the beneficiary to obtain the dependent’s life insurance benefit. If your deceased child was the beneficiary of your life insurance benefit, you will need to appoint a new beneficiary. Please complete a new Beneficiary Designation Form and HIPAA Authorization Form. For Life Insurance information, please see Article 7 on page 41 of the Carpenters’ Health and Welfare Summary Plan Description.
6.	To Change my Mailing Address/Phone Number/Email Address? It is important to keep your information updated with the Carpenters’ Benefit Plans Office. This affects any communication sent to you from the Benefit Plans Office, Carpenters’ District Council, your Local, and the Apprenticeship School. There are three ways to change your address: Complete an Address Change Notification form and mail it to the Benefit Plans Office, 1419 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139. Call the St. Louis Member Services Department at 314.644.4802 or Toll-Free at 877.232.3863. After providing proper identity verification, a St. Louis Member Services Representative will make the change. Stop by the Benefit Plans Office at 1419 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139 and complete a form.


	St. Louis Carpenters' Benefit Plans We Protect What You Build