Winter / Spring 2015www.norcalcementmasons.org

Losing Health & Welfare Coverage | Your 1099R Tax Form | Healthy Structures Reminder | Vision Service Plan

IN THIS ISSUE:

A publication for Northern California Cement Masons.

Cement Masons Quarterly is replacing the monthly Cement Masons Bulletins. You will still be able to find the key information you’ve come to rely on, but this new publication is

intended to expand and simplify how we communicate with our participants.

Cement Masons Quarterly

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THE FIRST FIVE

Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs

The Care Counseling Program, provided by Pacific Health Alli-ance (PHA) can help you save money and lower your share of out-of-pocket costs for any non-emergency treatment outside of your primary doctor’s office.

Care Counseling Program:1-855-754-7271

Paying for COBRA

If you are enrolled in COBRA Continuation Coverage, your premi-um payments must be recieved by the first day of the coverage month. Although there is a 30 day grace period, eligibility for ben-efits will be delayed until payment is recieved. Failure to make your monthly payment will result in termination of your health coverage. For more information, contact the Health and Welfare Department.

Plasterers & Cement Masons Scholarship Foundation

Make sure you review the enclosed infor-mation letter and application regarding the Plasterers and Cement Masons Scholarship Foundation. Applications will be accepted between 1/30/2015 to 4/10/2015.

Your 1099R Tax Form

Your 1099R tax form will be mailed by the end of January 2015. If you have cho-sen direct deposit for your pension benefit payments, make certain that the Trust Fund Office has your current mailing address on file. If your address is not updated, your 1099R may be delayed or returned to the Trust Fund Office.

You can complete a Change of Address by contacting the Pension Depart-ment or you can print one online by visiting: www.norcalcementmasons.org

Losing Health & Welfare Coverage

If you recently were informed by the Trust Fund Office that you are no longer eligible for Health and Welfare coverage, you may be wondering how you lost eligibility. Below is a brief outline of how coverage can end:

You lose coverage if:

• Your hour bank falls below 330 hours, • You enter military service, other than a temporary tour of duty of 30 days or less, • You perform the type of work covered by the collective bargaining agreement for a non-contributing employer.

You maintain Health and Welfare coverage with a minimum of 330 hours in your hour bank.

You will regain Health and Welfare coverage on the 1st day of the 2nd calendar month following a minimum of 330 hours in your hour bank.

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Explanation of Benefits NoticeDirect Payment Plan Participants

An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) notice is a summary of your recent medical benefit claim that has been processed for payment. The EOB will show the dates and types of services that were performed by your medical provider, as well as the amounts billed and paid by the Trust Fund. Additionally, the EOB will inform you of your financial responsibility for the claim after taking into consideration copay-ments, deductible, and coinsurance.

It is very important that you save your EOB and compare the information provided with the bill you receive from your medical provider. This quick comparison helps to ensure that the provider is not overcharging for services or charging for services that have not been performed.

Vision Service PlanVision Plan Participants

If you are experiencing trouble with your vision, its probably time to see an eye doctor. The Health and Welfare Plan provides you and your eligible dependents the following Vision Care Benefit:

• Exam/Lenses - every 12 months • Frames - every 24 months • $20 Copayment for exam, lenses, and frames

Find a Vision Care Provider: www.vsp.com or 1-800-877-7195

Death Benefits

Should there be a death in the family, the Plan will pay the partic-ipant or designated beneficiary the following Death Benefit:

• $10,000 for death of participant • $10,000 for accidental death of participant • $5,000 for death of spouse • $100 - 500 for death of children

Healthy Structures Reminder

Remember, if you didn’t take steps to lower your plan year de-ductible by completing the Healthy Structures Promise Program Requirement during open enrollment, your Basic Plan annual de-ductible is $1,000 per individual with a $3,000 family maximum, effective 1/1/2015.

However, if you did complete the Healthy Structures Promise Election Form and have completed the FREE biometric health screening, your Premier Plan annual deductible is $300 per indi-vidual with a $900 family maximum.

If you have questions about the Healthy Structures Promise Pro-gram, contact the Health and Welfare Department.

ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS

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CoinsuranceDirect Payment Plan Participants

When you use a non-preferred provider, your coinsurance is gen-erally 50% of the allowed charges; in addition to this coinsurance, you will also be responsible for paying all amounts that exceed the allowed charges. Copayments, deductible, coinsurance and amounts you pay that exceed the allowed charges generally do not count toward your plan year out-of-pocket maximum (some exceptions apply).

On the other hand, when you use a preferred provider, your co-insurance will be 20% and your copayments, deductible and coin-surance will count toward your plan year out-of-pocket maximum giving you the greatest savings on your share of costs on your health care expenses.

Preventive CareDirect Payment Plan Participants

Preventive care can help to detect illness early and may even help manage existing medical conditions more effectively. The new health care law outlines many preventive care services that are available to you at no cost when you use a preferred provider. For a complete list of no cost preventive care services covered by the Plan, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website at www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/preventive-care/.

No cost does not apply when you use a non-preferred provider. You will pay all applicable copayments, deductible, coinsurance and all amounts that exceed the allowed charges.

Returning to Work and Your Pension

If you are under age 65 and you return to work in the Building and Construction Industry in the type of work considered “prohibited” by the pension plan, your pension will be suspended for the number of months you work in that type of employment, as well as an additional three-months before your monthly pension resumes.

For example, if you return to work in December and stop work in April, your pension will be suspended for each of those months, plus a penalty of three months from May through July, and you may resume pension benefits in August.

If you are between the ages of 65 and RBD*, you are permitted to work in prohibited employment for less than 40 hours per month. If you work 40 or more hours in a month, your pension benefit will be suspended. Your pension will resume for any month you work less than 40 hours.

If you have reached your RBD*, you can engage in any type of employment without jeopardizing your pension.

There are some types of employment that you are permitted to engage in without jeopardizing your pension. For further informa-tion, contact the Pension Department.

*Required Beginning Date (RBD) = The April 1st following the calendar year in which you reach 701/2 years of age.

Qualified for Medicare?Health & Welfare Plan Participants

If you are under the age of 65, are covered by the Retired Plan and have received a Medicare card, either for yourself or an el-igible dependent (under age 65), mail a copy to the Trust Fund Office. If you or an eligible dependent are enrolled in Medicare parts A and B, you may be entitled to a lower monthly medical premium. For further information, contact the Pension Depart-ment.

Pension Information

Payment Dates: Pension benefit payments are directly depos-ited or mailed three business days before the 1st day of each benefit month.

February - 1/28/2015 March - 2/25/2015 April - 3/27/2015

Electronic Direct Deposit (EDD): Sign up for EDD and have your monthly pension benefit in your checking or savings account the day the Fund issues payment.

You can contact the Pension Department for an EDD form or you can print one online at www.norcalcementmasons.org.

Annual Pension Funding Notices

In mid-December, the Trust Fund Office mailed the following no-tices regarding your pension plan’s funding:

• Annual Funding Notice - Decribes the overall financial health of the pension plan and the current funded per centage.

• Notice of Funded Status - Describes the pension plan’s cur rent zone status.

Right to Appeal Pension Benefits

If you apply for benefits and your claim is denied, or you believe that you did not recieve the full amount of benefits to which you may be entitled, then you have the right to petition the Board of Trustees to reconsider the decision.

Your petition:

1. Must be in writing. 2. Must state in clear and concise terms the reason for your disagreement with the decision. 3. May include documents, records, and other information related to the claim. 4. Must be filed by you or your authorized representative within 60 days after you recieve the notice of denial (dis ability benefit appeals are 180 days).

For more information, contact the Pension Department.

Benefit Check Expiration

All benefit checks expire after 180 days. If you deposit or cash your Pension Plan benefit check after this time, the bank will re-ject it and may charge you a fee. Your replacement check could take 2-4 weeks to arrive. Cash these checks promptly or sign up for Electronic Direct Deposit (EDD) and recieve your money the day that the Trust Fund issues payment.

You can contact the Pension Department for an EDD form or you can print one online at www.norcalcementmasons.org.

RETIRED PARTICIPANTS

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IMPORTANT DATES

Event Date Group(s) Affected

Health & Welfare Plan year start January 1 Health & Welfare - AllNew Year’s Day, office closed January 1 & 2 AllFebruary Pension check January 28* Pension Plan ParticipantsIRS 1099R Form Jannuary 30 Pension Plan Participants

Presidents Day, office closed February 17 AllMarch Pension check February 25* Pension Plan Participants

April Pension check March 27* Pension Plan Participants

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CONTACT THE TRUST FUND OFFICE

* If you are signed up for EDD, check will be deposited on this date. If you are not signed up for EDD, your check will be mailed on this date.

Northern California Cement Masons Funds Administration, Inc.220 Campus Lane | Fairfield, CA 94534 | 707-864-3300 | 1-888-245-5005 | Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm

customerservice@norcalcementmasons.org | http://www.norcalcementmasons.org/About/ContactUs.htm

From Sacramento traveling westbound on I-80:

Take the Suisun Valley Road / Green Valley Road exit (there are also signs for “Solano Community College”). At the fork make a right onto Neitzel Road. At the stop sign, make a left onto Suisun Valley Road. Head straight past the two stoplights. Make a right onto Campus Lane. Our building will be the first on your left. Make the 2nd left into our front parking lot.

From San Francisco (I-80/I-680) traveling eastbound on I-80:

Take the Suisun Valley Road exit (there are also signs for “Solano Community Col-lege”). Make a left at the stop sign onto Su-isun Valley Road . Drive straight through a stop sign and two stoplights. Make a right onto Campus Lane. Our building will be the first on your left. Make the 2nd left into our front parking lot.

Northern California Cement MasonsFunds Administration, Inc.220 Campus LaneFairfield, CA 94534

DISCLAIMER

The Cement Masons Quarterly is published with the intent of providing information about the various benefits available to eligible participants and how to effectively use those benefits. There are exclusions and limitations in all benefit plans, so carefully read our various plan Rules and Regulations. Health and Welfare Plan rules should be reviewed before seeking medical care. Your rights as a plan participant are

ultimately determined by the Rules and Regulations of the various benefit plans.

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Northern California Cement Masons Funds Administration, Inc. 220 Campus Lane

Fairfield, CA 94534-1499 1 707 864 3300 or 1 888 245 5005 www.norcalcementmasons.org

Date: January 30, 2015 To: All Participants and Dependents enrolled in the Direct Payment Plan RE: Cement Masons Health and Welfare Trust Fund for Northern California

Direct Payment Plan Benefit Change Effective January 1, 2015

Generally, Experimental and/or Investigative Services are not covered by the Plan. Effective January 1, 2015, if you or an eligible Dependent is enrolled in an approved clinical trial related to cancer or another life-threatening illness, certain routine costs and services may be covered by the Plan. You or your physician must obtain prior authorization from the Trust Fund Office before services are rendered. If you or any of your Dependents are either currently enrolled or will be enrolled in a clinical trial, we urge you to contact the Trust Fund Office immediately for further details. If you have any questions about this announcement, call the Trust Fund Office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Sincerely,

Board of Trustees

Important Plan Benefit Change

Insert #27 to the September 2007 Health and Welfare Plan booklet—keep this announcement with your plan booklet

This announcement is intended to be a brief summary of the plan change. It cannot describe each and every plan provision that may be relevant to your situation. You should always refer to your plan booklet for the full details of your plan and keep all Important Plan Benefit Change announcements with your plan booklet so it contains up-to-date information regarding the plan. Receipt of this announcement does not validate your eligibility under the plan. You should always call the Trust Fund Office to verify your eligibility prior to any services.

PLASTERERS & CEMENT MASONS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION2015 SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY AND RULES

RULES

► Applicants must be a dependent child, stepchild, grandchild or adopted child or other dependent (up to 23 years of age, unmarried, full-time student (8 units) and a dependent on the member’s income tax return) of a member of any Local Union affiliated with the District Council of Plasterers and Cement Masons of Northern California. The parent or guardian of the applicant must have been a member in good standing of the Cement Masons for at least six (6) months preceding the date of the Application.

► Applicants must be either presently enrolled in their senior year of High School, at a College or University, or scheduled to receive a General Educational Diploma (“GED”) by the end of the 2015 spring or fall semester and have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (minus the $3,500 Award).

► Dependents of the Board of Directors and Scholarship Selection Committee are not eligible to apply for scholarships.

Applicants must be an undergraduate student attending an accredited College, University or Trade School and must be enrolled in a full-time program leading toward a degree. The scholarships will be paid directly to the scholarship recipient’s Educational Institution upon proof of full-time registration. It is the responsibility of the applicant to see that criteria is met and necessary items are completed and mailed to the address listed below no later than the specified deadline date of April 10, 2015

PLASTERERS & CEMENT MASONS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION4160 Suisun Valley Road – Suite E-244

Fairfield, CA 94534-4027

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To participate in the random draw process, complete and mail the following required items to the address listed above before the deadline:

1. Completed Application (must state college of choice i.e. 2-year or 4-year educational institution) 2. One page essay (2,000 words or less) 3. Certified transcript showing the last completed semester or quarter

Applicants that do not include the required materials above will be disqualified.

Scholarship Awards will be announced by April 30, 2015

THE PLASTERERS & CEMENT MASONS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO POST THE NAMES OF PARTICIPANTS AND

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ON ITS WEBSITE.

The Board members of the Scholarship Foundation, at its discretion, may amend the scholarship amount, eligibility, rules or other qualifying criteria at any time.

PLASTERERS & CEMENT MASONS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION2015 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

All areas are to be completed by applicant: Applicant’s Last Name First Name Middle init. Member’s Last Name First Name Middle Init.

Email Address Local Union # SSN

Birth Date Telephone

Street Address City State Zip Code

High School and/or Colleges attended: Name Location Dates of Attendance

If still in high school, what colleges have you applied or will apply to?

What is your educational or career objective?

Please list all activities, organizations, and offices held while in high school and/or college.

Special interests and outside activities.

List all honors and awards received.

Include a 1 (one) page essay (2,000 words or less) on one of the following topics: 1) Breakthough with higher education; or 2) How my education affected my peers and or community; or3) Current effect of education in the job market.

Date: ________________________ Applicant’s signature: _________________________________________

Apart from verifying eligibility of the applicant, the Cement Masons District Council will not favor one applicant over another.

PLASTERERS & CEMENT MASONS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION4160 Suisun Valley Road – Suite E-244 Fairfield, CA 94534-4027

F O R O F F I C E U S E O N L YParent’s Cement Masons District Council Join Date: _________________ Registration #: _______________ Good Standing: _____________

Scholarship winners selected by “Random Draw.”Application deadline: April 10, 2015

Award announcement: April 30, 2015

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Scholarship awards will be announced by April 30, 2015.

4160 Suisun Valley Road ▪ Suite E-244 ▪ Fairfield, CA 94534-4027

TO: ALL PLAN PARTICIPANTS

DATE: JANUARY 30, 2015

RE: PLASTERERS & CEMENT MASONS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

The District Council of Plasterers & Cement Masons has a long proud tradition of supporting training and educational opportunities for our members. Training and education has been and continues to be the cornerstone of the District Council’s success. Training and education benefit Union members, their families, employers, communities and the Cement Masons and Plasterers trade.

The Plasterers & Cement Masons Scholarship Foundation continues to provide educational scholarships to the dependents of members affiliated with the District Council of Plasterers and Cement Masons of Northern California. The Plasterers & Cement Masons Scholarship Foundation is pleased to award each Local (66, 300, and 400):

Random Draw Scholarships

► Three (3) scholarships for 2-year institutions at $1,000 per award;

► Five (5) scholarships for 4-year institutions at $2,500 per award;

Angel Delagrande Scholarship Hero Award

In 2013 the Plasterers and Cement Masons Scholarship Foundation formed the Angel Delagrande Hero Award Scholarship to select one (1) scholarship applicant that stands above the others in the following categories: G.P.A., Essay, Educational commitment and consistency. ► One recipient will receive (1) scholarship for a 4-year institution at $3,500.

Applicants must be enrolled in their senior year of High School, or enrolled in a College or University, or scheduled to receive a General Educational Diploma (“GED”) by the end of the 2015 spring semester. Scholarship recipients are to be enrolled full-time (minimum 8 units) as an undergraduate or a certificate from trade school for the student for the 2015 fall semester.

If a Local does not have a sufficient number of applicants for either category of scholarship, then those scholarships will be awarded, by random draw, to applicants from the other Local Unions. For answers to questions regarding the scholarship rules, eligibility or application requirements, please read the enclosed information or visit or call your Local Union office. Applications will be accepted beginning January 30, 2015 until the deadline submittal date of April 10, 2015.