Health & Welfare - Eligibility
In order for a member to initially become eligible (or to become re-eligible after losing coverage) for Health & Welfare basic coverage, they must work 350 hours in a quarter.
In order for a member to maintain their health care coverage thereafter, they must work 275 hours per quarter.
To become eligible for dental and vision benefits, the member must have coverage for three consecutive quarters.
What is a quarter?
The calendar year is divided into four quarters. Each quarter determines whether or not a member will be eligible for health care coverage in the following quarter. After you have worked 350 hours in one of these quarters, then your eligibility will be determined as follows:
| If you work 275 hours in the qualification quarters listed below: | Then you will be eligible for coverage in the following quarters: |
| January - March | May - July |
| April - June | August - October |
| July - September | November - January |
| October - December | February - April |
Example: If you work 275 hours between January - March, you will have health care coverage for the months of May - July.
Hours in excess of 325 per quarter will be placed in a reserve bank for a maximum of 825 hours, or three quarters of eligibility.
Example: If you worked 350 hours in the January - March quarter, 275 hours will go for your next quarter eligibility, and 25 hours will be placed in your reserve bank. Any quarter in which you work less than 275 hours, your reserve bank hours will be used to make up the difference to get you to 275 hours (provided that you do have hours in your reserve bank).