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Board of Trustees Announces Three-Month Extension of the Free Major Medical Plus Plan for Eligible Participants Impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes

The strike-related free Major Medical Plus Plan coverage has been extended beginning January 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024 for participants losing coverage on December 31, 2023, including those previously eligible for the free medical coverage that began October 1, 2023, and who meet certain eligibility requirements.

On October 2, 2023, the DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plans’ Board of Trustees unanimously approved a three-month extension of the strike-related Major Medical Plus Plan, recognizing that those losing Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of December 31, 2023 may also be impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Coverage applies to eligible DGA-Producer Health Plan participants and their dependents.

The Board of Trustees previously offered this coverage to participants and their eligible dependents who lost Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023. Those who elected the coverage will also be eligible for the extended Major Medical Plus Plan coverage through March 31, 2024, provided they remain on the Major Medical Plus Plan through December 31, 2023. Eligible participants from these two groups were notified of their eligibility in early September.

What the Major Medical Plus Plan Covers

The strike-related Major Medical Plus Plan provides the following benefits:

  • Network medical coverage, including mental health and substance abuse benefits.
  • In the case of Emergency Services provided at a non-network facility, when you receive emergency or non-emergency services from a non-network provider at certain network facilities, or receive emergency air ambulance services provided by non-network providers, non-network providers may not balance bill a patient and the patient will pay the same cost sharing that applies to network claims.
  • Prescription drug coverage.

Hearing aids, chiropractic, acupuncture and foot orthotics are excluded from coverage under the Major Medical Plus Plan, as are dental benefits, vision benefits and special arrangements with UCLA Health/EIMG.

Who Qualifies

To qualify for the Major Medical Plus Plan, you must have worked under the Basic Agreement or the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement and meet the requirements below:

  • You and your eligible dependents lost Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of June 30, 2023 and did not have sufficient earnings to requalify effective October 1, 2023 for the applicable work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and have at least $10,000 in initial compensation during the work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and the DGA-Producer Health Plan is your primary plan; OR
  • You and your eligible dependents lost Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of September 30, 2023 and did not have sufficient earnings to requalify effective October 1, 2023 for the applicable work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and have at least $10,000 in initial compensation during the work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and the DGA-Producer Health Plan is your primary plan; OR
  • You and your eligible dependents will lose Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of December 31, 2023 and did not have sufficient earnings to requalify effective January 1, 2024 for the applicable work period October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 and have at least $7,500 in initial compensation during the work period October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 and the DGA-Producer Health Plan is your primary plan.

Eligible participants may include their eligible dependents for the Major Medical Plus Plan coverage. If you were eligible for the Major Medical Plus Plan effective October 1, 2023, you are eligible for the extension through March 31, 2024, provided you elected and remain on the Major Medical Plus Plan through December 31, 2023.

Eligibility Exclusions

You will be ineligible for the strike-related Major Medical Plus Plan if any of the following conditions apply:

  • You worked under an agreement other than the Basic Agreement or Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement and have lost or are losing coverage on either June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023 or December 31, 2023; OR
  • You have Earned Inactive coverage based on residual compensation; OR
  • You have any form of self-pay coverage (including COBRA, Extended Self-Pay, Retiree Carry-Over or Certified Retiree); OR
  • You have Medicare as your primary coverage or are eligible for Medicare as your primary coverage; OR
  • You have available Carry-Over credits or Retiree Carry-Over credits or are eligible to begin Certified Retiree coverage. (You will be required to use your credits or Certified Retiree coverage.)

Eligible Participants Will Be Notified

Participants who qualify for the extended Major Medical Plus Plan will receive a letter from the Health Plan with further information.

For questions, please speak to a Participant Services Representative at (323) 866-2200, Ext. 401.