UMWA Combined Benefit Fund
The Combined Fund was established by federal law under the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992 (Coal Act.) Effective February 1, 1993, the UMWA 1950 Benefit Plan and Trust and the UMWA 1974 Benefit Plan and Trust were merged into the Combined Fund.
The Combined Benefit Fund contracts with the UMWA 1974 Pension Trust for administrative services, as do the other pension and benefit plans administered by the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds. Health and death benefits for active miners and for most retired mine workers who receive pensions from the 1974 Pension Plan are provided through plans administered by their employers.
In accordance with the Coal Act, the Combined Benefit Fund provides health and death benefits to over 30,000 individuals who were eligible to receive and receiving benefits from the 1950 Benefit Plan or the 1974 Benefit Plan on July 20, 1992.
Plan Administration
The board of seven trustees who are the plan administrator makes all major policy decisions for the Combined Fund and draft Plan and Trust documents. The duties of the trustees include collecting premiums and other funds owed to the Combined Fund, interpreting the provisions of the plan to pay benefits and investing the assets of the trust.
As required by the Coal Act, the UMWA appoints two trustees, the Bituminous Coal Operator's Association (BCOA) appoints one trustee and the three largest coal operators which were formerly signatory to the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreements (previous to the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement of 1988) appoint one trustee.
The remaining three trustees are selected by the other four. Michael H. Holland and Micheal W. Buckner have been appointed by the UMWA; Elliot A. Segal and Daniel L. Fassio have been appointed by the BCOA, and the BCOA has the authority to designate another individual for appointment to the CBF Board of Trustees. William P. Hobgood, Carl E. Van Horn and Gail R. Wilensky are the three additional trustees. Michael H. Holland and Elliot A. Segal are co-chairmen of the board of trustees.
