Medicare Advantage Plan

You are eligible for Medicare when:

• You are 65 years old; or
• You qualify on the basis of disability or other special situation; and
• You are a U.S. citizen or a legal resident who has lived in the United States for at least 5 consecutive years.

If you (or your spouse) have contributed payroll taxes to Medicare throughout your working life, you are eligible for Medicare when you reach age 65 — regardless of your income or health status.

When you enroll in the MACRC Health Fund/STLKC Southern Region’s Medicare PPO Plan, you have:

• Prescription drug coverage.
• All of the benefits of Medicare Parts A & B, plus a fitness benefit, hearing aid allowance, and routine chiropractic coverage.
• No referral needed to see a specialist.

You may see a provider outside the network for the same cost share as network providers as long as they participate in the Medicare Program.

Even though you are not required to see a network provider, they may already be part of our network.

To find out, search our online Provider Directory at retiree.uhc.com or call UnitedHealthcare Customer Service at 1-800-758-4885 TTY 711, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. CST Monday–Friday.

With this plan, you pay the same share of cost in and out-of-network as long as the provider is eligible to participate in the Medicare Program.

If your provider is in-network, they must accept this plan if you are an existing patient. If your provider is out-of-network, they may choose not to treat you unless it is an emergency.

Plan Overview

Use the video link below to watch an overview of Carpenters’ Medicare Advantage Plan with UnitedHealthcare.

Plan Overview

Looking for the UHC Plan Guide? Find the plan guide and additional flyers about the UHC Hearing benefit on our Health Plan Resources page under the Flyers header.

Basic Plan

Carpenters Health Plan provides medical, prescription, dental and vision benefits to covered participants and their eligible dependents. There are two types of Active coverage under the health plan: the Basic Plan and the Premium Plan. This page explains coverage under the Basic Plan.

Apprentices in Terms 1 – 4 who earn Initial Eligibility under Carpenters Health Plan on or after July 1, 2023, will be covered under the Basic Plan.

As a general outline of coverage, the Basic Plan allows for the same medical network of providers and access to in network providers with 70% Coinsurance, higher deductibles and higher out of pocket maximums, with limited vision and dental coverage. There is no out-of-network coverage under the Basic Plan. However, apprentices and their families covered under the Basic Plan will enjoy the same prescription drug benefits and life insurance as all eligible participants.

Carpenters Wellness Center services & Basic Plan participants
All Basic Plan participants and covered dependents may use the full scope of services provided within Carpenters Wellness Center. Please refer to Carpenters Wellness Center’s Schedule of Benefits on the Health Plan Resources page of this website for a list of services and benefits available.

Important notes:

• Apprentices 1st – 4th Term who earn initial eligibility prior to July 1, 2023, will be grandfathered into the current plan (referred to as the Premium Plan after July 1).
• No apprentice will move into the Basic Plan from the current health plan; this new plan is for newly covered 1st – 4th Term Apprentices only beginning July 1, 2023.
• Apprentices 5th Term and higher will earn and continue coverage under the Premium Plan.

Background: For many years, Carpenters Health Plan has subsidized lesser employer contribution rates for health coverage for 1st – 4th Term Apprentices, while continuing to offer the same level of health coverage as those who earn and maintain coverage based on the full Journeyman rate. The new Basic Plan will allow Carpenters Health Plan to continue offering coverage to newly eligible apprentices at a more financially appropriate level of benefits.

Short-Term Disability

Effective July 1, if you are a participant in the active classification, covered under the Basic Plan, and unable to work due to a period of disability, the plan provides a short-term benefit to protect a portion of your income.