Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. If you are an eligible retiree or surviving spouse covered under another plan you can enroll in the Trust in the future. When you notify RHCC, your coverage will begin the first of the following month.

However, note that under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), individuals are required to provide evidence of “minimum essential health coverage” or be subject to a penalty when they file their income tax return.

Yes. If you each retired from different auto companies, you can choose to carry your own coverage individually or you can each cover the other as a dependent. However, if you decide to cover each other, you will both be responsible for separate monthly family contribution rates. Note, in most cases, there is no advantage to having dual coverage as the coordination of benefit rules do apply.

Yes. Your spouse, same-sex spouse and/or same-sex partner is eligible for coverage at the time of your retirement.

If you get re-married after retirement, your new spouse will be eligible for coverage, however new same-sex partners cannot be added after retirement.

Yes. The Trust will allow a retiree to enroll a same-sex individual as a “spouse,” provided they are legally married.

Yes. Trust retirees can add dependents to coverage. They remain eligible until the end of the month they turn 26 years of age. However, they must be unmarried, reside with you, and be legally claimed as an exemption for federal tax purposes, unless you are responsible for their medical coverage due to a divorce decree or Qualified Medical Child Support Order.

Surviving spouses cannot add dependents to coverage unless they were eligible prior to the death of the retiree.

Yes. The Trust has a responsibility to make sure all covered retirees and dependents are eligible.

No. The Trust covers natural born children and adopted children through the month of his or her 26^th birthday, and children for which you have legal guardianship through the age of 18.

No.

No. Married dependent children are not eligible for coverage at the Trust.

No. Dependent children coverage does not extend beyond 26 years of age. Prior to the end of the month of your child’s 26th birthday, a COBRA package will be mailed to your address which you can elect to utilize.

Yes. If your child is Permanently and Totally Disabled (PTD), coverage may be continued beyond age 26.

You should call your health care plan carrier at the member service phone number on the back of your ID card.

Yes. If other plans are available in your area, you will have 30 days from the date you retire to change your health care plan effective with your date of retirement. After that initial 30 days, you will be subject to the rolling enrollment rules. Rolling enrollment means you will be able to change your benefit elections once every 12 months. The 12 month period begins when the new elections have been made. The new plan will be effective the 1st day of the 2nd month following your request.

To change your health care plan, you will need to contact RHCC at http://digital.alight.com/rhcc or call 866-637-7555 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Eastern Time. If you are Medicare enrolled, you cannot enroll online; you must call RHCC to change plans

You should use your current ID card until your retirement date, at which point you will have received your new medical card that you can begin using.

You should receive your ID card within 2 weeks of your effective date of retirement.

You should contact RHCC at 866-637-7555 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

If you are a Medicare member in the TCN, BCNA, HAP or Humana plan or a non-Medicare member in the ECP, BCN, HAP or Humana plan, then you will receive a separate ID card for prescription drugs from Optum Rx. You will need to present this ID card when receiving prescription drugs through the retail pharmacy.

For some plans, you will not receive a separate prescription drug ID card. You will continue to show your medical ID card when receiving prescription drugs through the retail pharmacy.

Yes. In fact, it’s the easier, more convenient and cost-effective way to get your ongoing prescription medications. By using mail-order, you will have your prescriptions delivered right to your home with no shipping fees. If you are a non-Medicare member and on a maintenance drug, those that are taken on an ongoing basis (three months or more) to treat conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you are allowed three fills at the retail pharmacy. After the third fill, you will be required to use the mail-order program.

Mail-order provides the convenience of home delivery, as well as a cost savings compared to the retail pharmacy – you can get a 90-day supply through mail-order for the same amount you would pay for a 30-day supply at a retail pharmacy. 

To find out if a medication you’re presently taking is a maintenance drug or to check the tier of a medication that you’re currently taking, contact your prescription drug provider by calling the number on the back of your ID card:

• If you are a Medicare member in the TCN, BCNA, HAP or Humana plan, or a non-Medicare member in the ECP, BCN, HAP or Humana plan, call the number on your separate Optum Rx ID card.
• For other plans (if you don't have a separate prescription drug ID card), call the number on the back of your medical ID card.

To find out if a medication you’re presently taking is covered or will need a prior authorization, contact your prescription drug provider by calling the number on the back of your ID card:

• If you are a Medicare member in the TCN, BCNA, HAP or Humana plan, or a non-Medicare member in the ECP, BCN, HAP or Humana plan, call the number on your separate Optum Rx ID card.
• For other plans (if you don't have a separate prescription drug ID card), call the number on the back of your medical ID card.

For the most part, no. For Medicare enrolled members, the Trust offers a Part D prescription drug plan. You will want to check the Medicare formulary (commonly used drugs that are covered) as it may differ slightly from the non-Medicare drug plan formulary. To ask about your plan's formulary, contact the number on the back of your Optum Rx ID card (if you are a Medicare member in the TCN, BCNA, HAP or Humana plan), or the number on the back of your medical ID card (if you are a Medicare member in the BCBS MAPD or UHC MAPD plan).

You should also be aware that Medicare only allows you to be enrolled in one Medicare Part D plan. If you are interested in enrolling in another Medicare Part D plan, you must contact RHCC to "opt-out" of the Trust prescription drug plan prior to your effective date to avoid any disruption coverage. If you choose to "opt-out," you will have no Trust-provided prescription drug coverage. If you mistakenly "opt-out," you will have the opportunity to re-enroll.

Yes. If you are eligible for VA benefits, you can still use VA pharmacies under those benefits. Please review the Trust prescription benefit against your VA benefit copayments to determine which option makes the most sense for you.

Yes. You do not have to choose one or the other. You can use the VA at any time and this will not impact your Trust prescription drug coverage.

Medicare will pay first, and then the Trust will process the remaining balance for payment with any cost-sharing requirements if the claim is a covered service. For Medicare Advantage plans, the claims are not processed through Medicare. Rather, the health insurance carrier processes the claims for the enrollee.

Yes. It is important for both you and your dependents to enroll in Medicare when first eligible. Medicare Part B requires a monthly premium. The cost of the Medicare Part B premium will go up 10% for each full 12-month period an individual was eligible for Medicare Part B during the initial enrollment period but did not enroll.

You may not have Trust coverage, as enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B are required. That said, health care claims are paid as if Medicare is primary whether or not you are enrolled. If you choose not to enroll, you will be responsible for significantly higher out-of-pocket costs.

When you’ve enrolled in Medicare, contact RHCC and let us know. The Trust will receive your Medicare information through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Yes. It is important for both you and your dependents to enroll in Medicare when you are first eligible. You usually don’t pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A coverage if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. However, if you don’t meet those requirements, Medicare Part A may require a monthly premium. If you fail to enroll when first eligible, the cost of the Medicare Part A premium will go up 10%. You will have to pay that penalty for twice the number of years you could have had Part A but did not sign up.

Medicare Part B requires a monthly premium. The cost of the Medicare Part B premium will go up 10% for each full 12-month period an individual was eligible for Medicare Part B during the initial enrollment period but did not enroll. If you did not enroll when first eligible, and later choose to enroll, you must wait until the next Medicare Part B open enrollment period, which is January 1 through March 31 of each year. Your Medicare Part B will be effective on July 1 of the year you enroll. For more information on Medicare, visit www.Medicare.gov.

Yes. When you enroll in Medicare, you will transition to Medicare medical coverage. If you are enrolled in the TCN plan, Medicare will pay for your health care bills first, then the Trust will cover the remainder for covered services. If you are currently enrolled in an HMO, you will be transitioned to a Medicare Advantage HMO plan.

In many cases, and depending where you live, once you become Medicare enrolled, you will have an additional health plan option, a Medicare Advantage PPO plan. Medicare Advantage PPO plans are offered by a private health insurance company, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare or Humana, that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, most Medicare services are covered through the health plan and aren’t paid for under Original Medicare. You will need to make sure you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to get your full benefits and to be eligible to enroll in any of the Medicare Advantage plans.

Public Consulting Group, Inc. (PCG) is a nationally recognized leader in Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits representation. PCG combines a wealth of knowledge and expertise with a hands on approach helping individuals file Social Security Disability benefits applications. The Trust has partnered with PCG to help members obtain Social Security Disability and Medicare benefits. Pursuing this is completely your decision, but know this service is offered to you at no cost. If eligible, these benefits may provide you with additional income from Social Security and additional health care benefits available through Medicare. Your eligibility for medical benefits provided through the Trust will continue. PCG also helps Trust Medicare members enroll in the Extra Help program. If eligible, this Medicare program will reduce your prescription drug copayments based on your resource and income defined by Medicare. Feel free to call PCG at 1-888-690-1008, email your questions:pcguaw@publicconsultinggroup.com, or visit them online:www.ssdiuawtrust.com.

No. Since you have Trust-provided group health coverage, you do not need to seek coverage through the exchanges.

Coordination varies depending on the specific circumstance. In general, Medicare pays for Medicare-covered services, while Veterans’ Affairs pays for VA-authorized services. Enrolling in a Trust plan will not cause you to lose your VA benefits. When services are received from the VA, the VA will pay. When services are received from a non-VA facility, the Trust plan will pay.