January 31, 1984
(Opinion issued in letter form; name and address deleted)
Re: ROD No. 81-401
Pursuant to Article IX of the United Mine Workers of America 1950 Benefit Plan and Trust, and under the authority of an exemption granted by the United States Department of Labor, the Trustees have reviewed the facts and circumstances of this dispute concerning the provision of continuation of coverage for a parent of a deceased Employee who was not survived by a spouse or dependent children.
Under Article II, E of the Employer’s Benefit Plan the Employer is responsible for the provision of health benefits coverage to an unmarried surviving spouse and such spouse’s unmarried surviving dependent children. There is no provision for health benefits coverage for a surviving parent of a deceased Employee or Pensioner. Although the deceased Employee’s parent was dependent upon and living with the Employee, the Employer is not responsible for provision of health benefits coverage beyond the end of the month in which the Employee died.
Sincerely,
Harrison Combs, Chairman
John J. O’Connell, Trustee
Paul R. Dean, Trustee