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OPINION OF TRUSTEES
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In Re
Complainants: Employees
Respondent: Employer
ROD Case No: 84-609 – April 20, 1988
Board of Trustees: Joseph P. Connors, Sr., Chairman; Paul R. Dean, Trustee; William B. Jordan, Trustee; William Miller, Trustee; Donald E. Pierce, Jr., Trustee.
Pursuant to Article IX of the United Mine Workers of America (“UMWA”) 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 health benefits coverage under the terms of the Employer Benefit Plan.
Background Facts
The Complainants are Employees working in classified jobs for the Respondent. The Respondent is signatory to the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement (“Wage Agreement”) of 1984.
The Respondent provided health benefits coverage for the Complainants through the Bituminous Industry Trust/Business Insurance Trust (“BIT”) and California Life Insurance from November 1, 1985 through January 31, 1987. The BIT was terminated on April 30, 1987. Due to insolvency, the BIT and California Life Insurance have ceased paying health benefits claims for services rendered prior to April 30, 1987.
The Respondent provided health benefits coverage for the Complainants through Mountain Trails Health Plan from February 1, 1987 through August 31, 1987. Information provided to the Funds indicates that Mountain Trails Health Plan was declared insolvent, effective September 23, 1987. Due to insolvency, Mountain Trails Health Plan has ceased paying benefits claims for services rendered prior to September 23, 1987.
The Respondent has provided health benefits coverage for the Complainants through a different insurance carrier since September 1, 1987. The Complainants have submitted copies of unpaid bills for medical services rendered during their employment with the Respondent prior to September 1, 1987. The Complainants ask whether the Respondent is responsible for payment of their medical bills that are unpaid due to the insolvency of BIT, California Life Insurance, and Mountain Trails Health Plan.
Dispute
Whether the Respondent is responsible for payment of the Complainants’ medical bills that are unpaid due to the insolvency of BIT, California Life Insurance, and Mountain Trails Health Plan.
Positions of the Parties
Position of the Complainants: The Complainants ask whether the Respondent is responsible for payment of their outstanding medical bills that are unpaid due to the insolvency of the insurance carriers.
Position of the Respondent: The Respondent has not responded to repeated correspondence from Funds’ staff regarding its position in this dispute.
Pertinent Provisions
Article XX Section (c)(3)(i) of the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement of 1984 provides in pertinent part:
(c) 1974 Plans and Trusts
(3)(i) Each signatory Employer shall establish and maintain an Employee benefit plan to provide, implemented through an insurance carrier(s), health and other non-pension benefits for its Employees covered by this Agreement as well as pensioners, under the 1974 Pension Plan and Trust, whose last signatory classified employment was with such Employer. The benefits provided by the Employer to its eligible Participants pursuant to such plans shall be guaranteed during the term of this Agreement by that Employer at levels set forth in such plans.
Article I (1), (2) and (4) of the Employer Benefit Plan provide:
Article I – Definitions
The following terms shall have the meanings herein set forth:
(1) “Employer” means (Employer’s Name).
(2) “Wage Agreement” means the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement of 1984, as amended from time to time and any successor agreement.
(4) “Employee” shall mean a person working in a classified job for the Employer, eligible to receive benefits hereunder.
Article II A. (4) of the Employer Benefit Plan provide:
Article II – Eligibility
The persons eligible to receive health benefits pursuant to Article III are as follows:
A. Active Employees
(4) A new Employee will be eligible for health benefits from the first day worked with the Employer.
Discussion
Article XX Section (c)(3)(i) of the 1984 Wage Agreement requires an Employer to provide an Employer Benefit Plan… “implemented through an insurance carrier(s), [for] health and other non-pension benefits…” It further requires that “benefits provided by the Employer to its eligible Participants pursuant to such plans shall be guaranteed during the term of this Agreement by that Employer at levels set forth in such plans.”
Article II. A of the Employer Benefit Plan provides health benefits coverage to active employees working in classified jobs for a signatory Employer. The Respondent in the instant case implemented its Employer Benefit Plan through an employer trust fund and insurance carriers which subsequently became insolvent. Implementation of a plan through a carrier, in and of itself, does not relieve the Respondent of its primary obligation to provide benefits pursuant to the Wage Agreement. Inasmuch as the Complainants were eligible for health benefits coverage from the Respondent as active Employees at the time their outstanding medical charges were incurred, the Respondent is responsible for payment of those charges under the terms of the Employer Benefit Plan.
Opinion of the Trustees
The Respondent is responsible for payment of the covered medical charges incurred by the Complainants and their eligible dependents during the Complainants’ employment with the Respondent under the terms of the Wage Agreement and the Employer Benefit Plan.