1
Employees Covered by the National Coalition Agreement
Annual Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which benefits are provided through the United Steel Workers Health & Welfare Fund?
A. The United Steelworkers Health & Welfare Fund will provide the following benefits to eligible employees
covered by the National Coalition Agreement beginning January 1, 2023: Medical (Prescription included),
Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
If you would like Medical (Prescription included), Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance coverage for 2023,
you must enroll on the Benefits Service Center portal or call the Benefits Service Center by November
18, 2022. The benefits are bundled so you cannot only enroll in one benefit. If you enroll, it is for Medical
(Prescription included), Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance coverage.
Please note: Employees covered by the National Coalition Agreement will receive health care benefits
effective on January 1, 2023 through the United Steelworkers Health and Welfare Fund, as eligible..
Employees represented by local unions that have not ratified their local agreements prior to annual enrollment,
will not participate in annual enrollment under the United Steelworkers Health and Welfare Fund because they
are not covered by the National Addendum until their local agreement is ratified. Instead, they will be offered
the opportunity to participate in annual enrollment for the Red Cross Exchange benefits in order to comply with
the Affordable Care Act beginning January 1, 2023, unless their local agreement is ratified and they become
covered by the National Addendum or other terms are negotiated and ratified.
Q. Which benefits are provided through the American Red Cross?
A. The American Red Cross will continue to provide the following benefits to employees: Employee Assistance
Program (EAP), Dependent Care and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Supplemental Life
Insurance, Child Life Insurance, Spouse/Domestic Partner Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability and Voluntary
Benefits including Group Legal Plan, Group Critical Illness Insurance, Identity Theft and more.
The Red Cross will offer eligible employees Short-Term Disability through Lincoln Financial Group (LFG),
effective January 1, 2023. Employees living in California seeking Short-Term Disability benefits should utilize
the California State Disability Insurance program.
To learn more about the Red Cross benefits visit the Benefits Service Center portal also accessible via Single
Sign-On from HR Now by selecting My Benefits. Customer service representatives are available by calling
1-877-860-7526, between 9 am - 5 pm ET, Monday – Friday. Benefits Service Center resources during Annual
Enrollment include Virtual Hold, Click2Call, and Appointment Scheduling.
Q. How do employees enroll in 2023 benefits?
A. Employees must enroll in Red Cross and United Steelworkers benefits during the Annual Enrollment (AE)
period, November 7 - 18, 2022. To enroll or make coverage changes employees must log into the Benefits
Service Center portal or call the Benefits Service Center.
Active enrollment is required for the United Steelworkers Health & Welfare Fund in order to receive
Medical (Prescription included), Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
The IRS requires an annual election for employees that wish to have Dependent Care or Health Care Flexible
Spending Account coverage; an active enrollment is required each annual enrollment period.
All other previously elected benefits will automatically carry over into the new plan year.
2
Q. Are there other medical options under the United Steelworkers provided benefits?
A: Yes, for residents of OR and CA, they will be offered medical coverage through Kaiser if residing in an eligible zip
code. Kaiser will be in addition to the Blue Cross Blue Shield (Highmark) PPO option. Please contact the United
Steelworkers office for additional details on Kaiser provided medical coverage.
Q: What are the premiums for United Steelworker Health & Welfare Fund benefit coverage?
A: United Steelworker Health & Welfare Fund offers a different pricing structure based on full-time and part-time
employment status. Details can be viewed on the Benefits Service Center portal, also accessible via Single Sign-
On from HR Now by selecting My Benefits.
Q: Can employees waive coverage?
A: Yes, employees will have the option to waive United Steelworkers (USW) Health & Welfare Fund coverage.
Waiving USW coverage means you will no Medical (Prescription included), Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
coverage for 2023.
Q: How will employees pay for United Steelworkers Health & Welfare Fund benefits?
A: Benefit deductions will continue to occur through payroll. The United Steelworkers Health & Welfare Fund benefit
deductions will appear under one pre-tax deduction code ‘MDUC’. Deductions occur 24 times annually and for
the month the deductions are withheld.
Q. Who do employees contact for Voluntary Benefits information?
A. Employees should visit the MyRedCross Personal Plan and Discounts site at MyRedCrossPersonalPlans.com.
Single Sign-On accessible from HR Now and the Benefits Service Center portal. Or contact Mercer at 1-800-
441-5583 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
Q: How can employees learn more about the Red Cross offered policies before enrolling?
A: The following is a high-level overview of the benefits available. For specific questions relating to American Red
Cross policies and coverage you can review the Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) or Certificates available
on the Benefits Service Center portal.
Short-Term Disability: Lincoln Financial Group (LFG) offers coverage to regular employees who work 35+
hours per week if you are unable to work due to an illness or injury, up to 60% of pay. In states with
government run disability programs, the plan will coordinate benefits to get you 60%. There is a 7-day
elimination period and the policy is 100% employer paid.
Employees living in California seeking short-term disability benefits should utilize the California State Disability
Insurance program.
Long-Term Disability: Lincoln Financial Group offers coverage to full-time regular employees if you are
unable to work due to an illness or injury, up to 50% of pay. In states with government run disability programs,
the plan will coordinate benefits to get you to 50%. There is a 180-day waiting period and the policy is 100%
employee paid. Evidence of insurability (EOI) and approval is required by Lincoln Financial Group (LFG) if
coverage is not elected as a new hire.
Life Insurance: Employees can choose to enroll in Supplemental Life, Spouse/Domestic Partner Life, and/or
Child Life offered by LFG.
• Supplemental Life & AD&D is offered at 1x-5x annual earnings. Evidence of Insurability (EOI) will be
waived this annual enrollment, for employees who have no coverage and elect up to two-times annual
earnings, (as long as the increase in coverage is less than $250,000). EOI will be required for any
previously denied supplemental life coverage.
• Spouse Life/Domestic Partner options are $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000 and coverage cannot exceed
50% of your basic life (if applicable and provided by USW) and supplemental life amount. EOI will be
3
waived this annual enrollment however EOI will be required for any previously denied spouse/domestic
partner coverage.
• Child life options are $1,000, $2,000, or $10,000 and available for dependents up to the age of 26. Child
Life does not require any EOI. If you have Child Life Insurance, you must select/add each child to your
coverage by selecting them as covered dependents during the enrollment flow. This applies if you are
adding your children for the first time or if they have been enrolled in the plan before.
Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HC FSA): Your Spending Account is the administrator for the HC
FSA. HC FSA allows you to use your pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible health care expenses such as co-pays
and co-insurance that is not covered by your medical, dental and/or vision insurance. HC FSA includes a debit
card for convenience. Annual amounts cannot be changed during the year (without an IRS qualified status
change) and any remaining balance at the end of the 2023 calendar year is forfeited.
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DC FSA): Your Spending Account is the administrator for the
DC FSA. DC FSA allows you to use your pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent child and/or elderly care
expenses. Employees must pay for services out-of-pocket and then request reimbursement from Your
Spending Account. Annual amounts cannot be changed during the year (without an IRS qualified status
change) and any remaining balance at the end of the 2023 calendar year is forfeited.
Q: Are there any special rules regarding Long-Term Disability?
A: All new elections will be subject to Evidence of Insurability. LFG will review and determine if an employee is
eligible for the benefit. Review the Group Disability Certificate available on the Benefits Service Center portal
for details.
Q: Who do I contact with additional questions on the United Steelworkers Health and Welfare Fund
benefits?
A: Please review the contact chart below.
Benefit
Carrier
Contact #
Business
hours (ET)
Website
Medical
Highmark (Blue
Cross Blue Shield)
1-800-299-
1910
8:00 AM to 5:30
PM, Monday -
Friday
highmarkbcbs.com
Dental
United Concordia
Vision
Davis Vision
Medical (CA and OR
residents only)
Kaiser
1-888-831-
3863
8:00 AM to 5:00
PM, Monday -
Friday.
n/a
Life Insurance
OneAmerica
1-800-553-
3522
8:00 AM to 6:00
PM, Monday -
Friday
employeebenefits.aul.com
Escalation and new
hire support
Steelworkers Health
and Welfare Fund
1-888-831-
3863
8:00 AM to 5:00
PM, Monday -
Friday.
n/a
Eligibility, enrollment
and COBRA
questions
Steelworkers Health
and Welfare Fund
Administrative Office
1-888-296-
7493
8:00 AM to 5:00
PM, Monday -
Friday
n/a
