Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Trust Fund – Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) (3A)

Welcome to the Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). Your HRA account, which is funded by contributions that were collectively bargained on your behalf, will help you pay medical expenses not covered by the Health Plan. The funds in your account began to be available as of September 1, 2017.

Here are two ways you can access information on your account:

1. Log on to the HRA Consumer Web Portal and request a reimbursement. You can also pay eligible expenses (like a doctor’s bill or a COBRA premium) directly from your HRA account. Please see Consumer Quickstart Guide and Instructions for HRA Portal links below.

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Your HRA debit card is the simplest way for you to access the funds in your HRA account. If you do not receive your HRA debit card, or if you have any questions about your HRA benefit, or how to access your benefits, please call Coast Benefits at 844-739-7956.

2. Manage your HRA account from the palm of your hand. Check your HRA account balance and submit receipts from anywhere. You can easily and securely access your HRA account, submit claims and upload receipts anywhere at any time. You have quick access to common tasks with an easy to use design that helps make sense of your health and financial information. Click on link below for help.

Use your HRA debit card. Your HRA debit card is accepted at most merchants for vision, dental, and doctor/hospital visits and most places where you fill prescriptions. Over-the-counter medications must be paid out of pocket and then file for reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are frequently asked questions regarding the new Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Please note that an HRA account can only be used to pay for eligible expenses allowed under the terms of the Summary Plan Description. You should thoroughly review the SPD for full details regarding this benefit. Please note that Participants are not vested in any contributions made on their behalf to the HRA.
1 - When can I start using the amount in my HRA account?

Participants working under the 9th District Sound & Communications Agreement were able to start using their HRA account to pay for eligible expenses beginning January 1, 2018. You may only use your HRA account to pay for eligible expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2018. Participants working under the Inside Wiremen's Agreement, Inspectors Agreement, Railroad Agreement and Intelligent Transportation Agreement were able to start using their HRA account to pay for eligible expenses beginning September 1, 2017.

2 - What out of pocket expenses are eligible for reimbursement?

Eligible expenses include deductibles under your medical, dental or vision insurance, co-payments and other non-covered expenses for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and psychiatric services, and required self-pay premiums and COBRA premiums. If prescribed by a qualified doctor, off the shelf medical supplies such as bandages are also examples of eligible expenses. Only IRS eligible expenses are allowed to be reimbursed through your HRA account. A complete list of IRS eligible expenses is contained in Section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code.

3 - What do I do if I forget my PIN or need to set my PIN?

Call 866-898-9795 for any PIN related questions.

4 - Are there any expenses that will not be reimbursed?

Any expenses that are not medically necessary will not be reimbursed, such as cosmetic services, hair transplants, and weight loss programs, unless the weight loss is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease). Also, if you are using your HRA debit card at a merchant and you try to pay for items which are not eligible for reimbursement through the HRA, the cost of those items will not be covered by your HRA debit card.

5 - If I lose coverage under the Active Plan and do not elect COBRA or enroll in the Retiree Health Plan, can I use my HRA for medical expenses?

No.

6 - Can I use my HRA account if I am no longer eligible for benefits under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Trust Fund?

You must be eligible for Active Plan Coverage or participating in the Retiree Health Plan under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Health Trust Fund to use your HRA account. If you lose Active Plan Coverage, you may only use your HRA account to pay for COBRA premiums to continue coverage in the Active Plan or to pay self-payments required by the Retiree Health Plan. However, if you do regain eligibility before forfeiting your HRA account, you may then use your HRA account to pay for eligible expenses. In addition, if you are the surviving spouse of a deceased Participant, you can use the HRA account to pay for COBRA premiums under the Active Plan and eligible expenses.

7 - Can my HRA account be forfeited?

Yes, if you have not had coverage under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Active or Retiree Plan for a period of 60 or more consecutive calendar months, your account balance will be reduced to zero. Your HRA account will also be forfeited if you engage in Non-Covered Electrical Employment by being employed in any capacity and for any duration by a contractor in the Electrical Industry who is not signatory to a collective bargaining agreement with an IBEW Local Union having jurisdiction of the work, OR you are an owner of a company in the Electrical Industry which is not signatory to a CBA of an IBEW Local Union having jurisdiction for the work.

8 - What happens to my HRA account if I should die?

A deceased Participant's rights pass to eligible dependents at the time of death. A surviving spouse shall always have primary control. If there is no Surviving Spouse, your eligible dependents may use your HRA account to pay the cost of COBRA coverage on a pro-rata basis. Nothing prevents a surviving eligible dependent from waiving their interest in favor of other surviving eligible dependents for purposes of applying the HRA account to COBRA continuation coverage under the Active Plan.

9 - If I die while covered under the Active Plan and none of my dependents elect COBRA, can my dependents use my HRA for medical expenses?

No.

10 - What happens to my HRA account if I should die while covered under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Retiree Health Plan?

If you die while covered under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Retiree Health Plan, your surviving spouse may utilize the HRA account to make self-payments and/or COBRA coverage under the Retiree Health Plan and pay for supplemental insurance such as dental/vision coverage, but not for a separate health insurance plan. While eligible under the Retiree Health Plan, your surviving spouse may also use the HRA account and pay for eligible expenses.

11 - If I retire and enroll in the Southern California IBEW-NECA Retiree Health Plan, what happens to my HRA account?

While eligible under the Retiree Health Plan, you may also use the HRA account and pay for eligible expenses.

12 - If I die while covered under the Retiree Health Plan and my surviving spouse does not elect COBRA under the Retiree Health Plan or continue as an eligible enrolled spouse, can my spouse use my HRA for medical expenses?

No.

13 - What happens to my HRA account if I should die while covered under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Retiree Health Plan?

If you die while covered under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Retiree Health Plan, your surviving spouse may utilize the HRA account to make self-payments and/or COBRA coverage under the Retiree Health Plan and pay for supplemental insurance such as dental/vision coverage, but not for a separate health insurance plan. While eligible under the Retiree Health Plan, your surviving spouse may also use the HRA account and pay for eligible expenses.

14 - If I retire and enroll in the Southern California IBEW-NECA Retiree Health Plan, what happens to my HRA account?

While eligible under the Retiree Health Plan, you may also use the HRA account and pay for eligible expenses.

15 - If I die while covered under the Retiree Health Plan and my surviving spouse does not elect COBRA under the Retiree Health Plan or continue as an eligible enrolled spouse, can my spouse use my HRA for medical expenses?

No.

16 - If an individual is both an eligible Participant and an eligible dependent due to the relationship with another eligible participant (i.e. both spouses work as electricians) and Spouse A loses primary eligibility while Spouse B maintains primary eligibility, can both spouses continue to use the HRA benefit?

Yes, if both spouses are still eligible, i.e. spouse A as spouse B's dependent.

17 - How will I know how much money is in my HRA account?

You will be able to log into your personal secure account via the internet or mobile application. You can also call Coast Benefits at 844-739-7956.

18 - How does the HRA debit card work and where can I use it?

The HRA debit card works at drug stores, pharmacies, grocery stores and big box merchants that sell items which are eligible for reimbursement through an HRA account. The HRA debit card also generally works at physician's offices, dental offices and vision care providers.

19 - Who do I speak with if I have questions about my HRA account or if I want to submit a claim?

Your claims will be processed through the HRA debit card, the internet portal, the mobile application or through mail or fax. If you wish to submit your claims for reimbursement by mail or fax, please send your claims directly to Coast Benefits for the HRA benefit at the following address:

  • Coast Benefits, Inc. 3530 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 110 San Diego, California 92108
  • Toll-free Phone: 1-844-739-7956
  • Toll-free Fax: 1-877-501-1015
20 - Is there a minimum amount that I can submit for reimbursement?

Yes, the minimum aggregate amount to be submitted for reimbursement is $25.00.

21 - Is there a deadline for submission of claims?

There is no deadline to submit a claim as long as your HRA account has not been forfeited for any reason outlined in Q&A 7, above. In addition, if a Participant and/or dependent ceases to be eligible for coverage under the Southern California IBEW-NECA Active Health Plan, and is not covered under the Retiree Health Plan, no expenses incurred subsequent to the loss of eligibility may be reimbursed with the exception of payment for COBRA premiums and self-payments to the Retiree Health Plan. Spouses ceasing eligibility due to divorce and dependents ceasing eligibility due to age lose all rights to HRA reimbursement and may not use the Participant's HRA account for COBRA coverage because the HRA account is always held by the Participant.

22 - What if my HRA account does not have sufficient funds to cover an expense I have submitted?

If your HRA account balance is insufficient to cover a claimed expense you have submitted, you will only be reimbursed for the amount of funds in your account. You may file for reimbursement of the unpaid portion of any eligible expenses when your HRA account has additional contributions credited to it.

23 - Is there a charge to replace my lost or stolen HRA debit card?

Yes. There is a $10.00 fee to replace lost or stolen cards.

24 - What contribution rates are being paid into the HRA on my behalf?

Please contact the Administrative Trust Funds Office Audit and Remittance Processing Department at 323-221-5861 for information about current and historical HRA contribution rates.