Basic Plan

Carpenters Health Plan provides medical, prescription, dental and vision benefits to covered participants and their eligible dependents. There are two types of 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.