Most employers providing health insurance benefits must offer a temporary extension of the organization’s group insurance coverage when an employee (or covered dependent) experiences a “qualifying event,” The Federal Government enacted the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly known as “COBRA.”

You are eligible to continue your group coverage of Vision, Hearing and Dental benefits based upon your qualifying event.   Life Insurance is not a provision of COBRA. Any of your dependents who were enrolled in a plan prior to the qualifying event also have an independent right to continue their coverage and shall be known as a “qualified beneficiary.”



If you lose coverage under the Shopmen's Local Union No. 508 Health & Welfare Fund, you will be mailed a COBRA Notice of your right to retain Vision, Hearing and Dental benefits at your own cost and expense.  Please read the Cobra Notice carefully, pay special attention to timeframes and response dates.

An Active Employee's unmarried child who has not yet reached the end of the calendar year of his/her 19th birthday is eligible for Vision, Life, Hearing and Dental benefits.  Upon cancellation of coverage due to overage, the Dependent will be sent a COBRA Notice.

COVERAGE FOR DEPENDENTS 19-25

FULL- TIME STUDENT STATUS REQUIREMENT

Under the Shopmen’s Local Union No. 508 Health & Welfare Fund, your unmarried dependent child age 19-25  attending an accredited school as a full-time student with 12 credit hours or more may remain eligible for Vision and Dental benefits only.  The Fund Office will mail you a Student Verification Form and request proof of full-time student status of 12 credit hours or more.  You must submit the completed form and required proof by the date listed on the form in order for the dependent to remain eligible.  The unmarried child must be chielfy dependent upon you for 50% of his or her support and maintenance and meets the definition of a dependent as set forth by the IRS and is attending an accredited school as a full-time student.  Failure to sumit the proof in a timely manner will result in termination of coverage and a COBRA Notice will be mailed to the Dependent. 

 Please read the COBRA Notice carefully and should you have questions, please call the Fund Office at (248) 945-7374.