Early Retiree Health Plan
What is the TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan?
The TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan is limited benefit, basic hospital/surgical insurance coverage sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. It provides benefits for hospital and surgical expenses, physician charges, outpatient non-surgical charges, ambulance charges, and an accidental death benefit.
Is this major medical insurance?
Although the TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan is not major medical insurance, it is the most affordable supplemental hospital/surgical insurance coverage we have found. If you are covered by a major medical insurance plan and have the financial means to continue it, we encourage you to keep your current insurance, as it provides more comprehensive coverage than the TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan. You cannot carry both a major medical insurance plan and this coverage at the same time.
How is the plan structured?
The TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan has two benefit levels: After a $500 deductible has been met, the High Plan pays hospital benefits up to $100,000 per accident or sickness; the Low Plan pays maximum hospital benefits up to $50,000 per accident or sickness. Additional benefits are payable for items such as surgical expenses and physicians’ fees. See schedule below for more details.
Why do I need the TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan?
Millions of Americans have found themselves either totally without health insurance coverage, or seriously under insured. There are many causes for this, including cancelled employer-provided coverage, difficulty locating coverage in their area, or difficulty obtaining coverage that is financially feasible. The changing face of our economy has also created circumstances which pose a unique challenge: people, who — for whatever reason — are retired, but have not yet reached age 65, and therefore are not yet eligible for Medicare benefits.
Who is eligible for this coverage? Can my family be covered?
Issue ages for this coverage are 0-64. Either you or your spouse must have had at least one year of active membership with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to be eligible as the primary insured for the TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan. If you are eligible for Medicare, you are not eligible for the TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan. Eligible children can be covered only if you or your spouse is the primary insured. To be eligible, children must be under 19 years of age, dependent on you and a resident in your household. Coverage on eligible children terminates at age 19 unless the child is a full-time student, then coverage can continue to age 23. This coverage is renewable until age 65 — policy cannot be canceled or non-renewed as long as premiums are paid on time and the master policy remains in force.
Do I have to change doctors?
Insureds are free to visit any doctor or hospital they wish, and are not restricted to a list of providers.
What about discounts on health services and prescriptions?
Health Services - While your TEAMStar Early Retiree Health Plan allows you the freedom to use any healthcare providers you choose, you have the option to utilize a Preferred Provider Network with over 300,000 participating providers and 4,100 hospitals nationwide. If you choose to use one of these providers, savings average 20% for physician charges and up to 45% on hospital charges.
Prescriptions - You will receive — at no cost to you — a TEAMStar Rx card, which provides discounts on prescriptions at nearly 40,000 participating pharmacies nationwide. By using their convenient mail order program, you can see even greater savings on medicines you take regularly. You can also save on vitamins and nutritional supplements. TEAMStar Rx is not insurance, so there are no claims to file — just present your card and begin saving immediately!
BENEFIT FEATURES |
BENEFIT AMOUNT |
High Plan |
Low Plan |
Maximum Benefit Per Accident Or Sickness*: |
$100,000 |
$50,000 |
Daily Hospital Expense Benefit
(after $500 deductible)**
For days 1-10 Pays incurred expenses
For the next 30 days Pays incurred expenses |
80% up to $4,000 per day
80% up to $2,000 per day |
80% up to $2,000 per day
80% up to $1,000 per day |
Daily Intensive Care Benefit |
Daily and Maximum benefits are increased $1,000 each day for up to
10 days in the ICU. |
ADDITIONAL FEATURES |
BENEFIT |
Hospital Admission Benefit
If you or your insured family member is hospitalized, the coverage will pay an
admission benefit. You will receive a check in the mail when we are notified
of your hospital stay. |
$100 per hospital stay - benefit is not tied to incurred expenses - it can be used how you see fit. |
Outpatient (Non-Surgical) Benefit
Pays incurred expenses for outpatient services including:
1. outpatient hospital expenses like emergency room visits;
2. diagnostic imaging such as x-rays, MRIs, etc., and;
3. radiation treatment such as for cancer. |
80% up to $500 |
80% up to $300 |
Surgical Expense Benefit
Pays 100% of surgical charges up to the benefit amount listed in the policy schedule whether inpatient or outpatient. The largest applicable surgical benefit will be paid for any one accident or sickness. |
Up to $10,000 |
Up to $7,500 |
+ up to 20% of surgical benefit for Assistant Surgeon |
+ up to 25% of surgical benefit for Anesthesiologist |
Physician Charges
INPATIENT: Pays for one doctor visit each day during an inpatient hospital stay for each accident or sickness. |
80% of the doctor's fee, up to $50 per day
Maximum of $2,000 |
Physician Charges
OUTPATIENT: Pays for doctor visits at a doctor's office, clinic, or your home for accident or sickness, plus one physical exam each year. Total benefits paid for office visits and exam cannot exceed maximum benefit. |
80% up to $50 per visit
80% up to $100 for one physical exam per year
$500 maximum per year |
Registered Nurse Benefit
Pays incurred expenses for full-time care from a registered nurse during a hospital stay. |
80% up to $100 per 8-hour shift
Up to three (3) shifts per day for no more than 90 days |
Ambulance Benefit
Pays incurred expenses for ambulance service to or from a hospital. |
80% up to $200 |
Accident Benefit — Age 0-64 |
Accidental death benefit of $10,000 |
*BENEFIT PERIOD – After 24 calendar months without treatment for a particular Sickness, subsequent treatment for that Sickness will be counted as a new Sickness for purposes of determining benefits payable under the Certificate.
**For Inpatient And Outpatient Surgeries. |
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This plan may not be available in all 50 states. Please call at the 800 number listed below to see if this plan is available in your state. |