Purpose: The purpose of the Lackawanna
Benefits Trust is to provide benefits for members of the Lackawanna
Teachers Federation.
Eligibility
requirements: Dues paying union
members, agency fee payees, teacher on sabbatical (half year at full pay
or full year at half pay), LTF members on leave from the district, COBRA
eligible members, and retirees..
 All newly hired
teachers will have to meet a 90-day waiting period before benefits
commence.
Dependents are
eligible after their second birthday until their 23rd
birthday.
Ineligibility: Once a member leaves the Lackawanna
Teachers Federation or leaves the coverage of such, they are no longer
eligible for benefits.
If a member’s
employment is affected, once they opt out of the benefits trust they are
ineligible to return to the trust.
Family medical
leave act participants – initial 12 weeks of leave that are covered by
benefits will remain in the plan as usual. At the 13 week point the
member will pay the full contribution plus the cost
differential.
Members who opt
not to participate will be ineligible to participate in the plan for a
period of two years unless there is a change of life
circumstances.
Non-payment will
result in termination and are not eligible to return to the trust for a
period of two years.
Teachers replacing
a current LTF member are not eligible for benefits from the
trust.
If a member dies,
the family will be covered until the end of the month of death if they opt
not to be covered by COBRA.
Once a dependant
reaches age 23 they will be dropped from coverage as per insurance company
policy.
Member’s
responsibilities:
Dental
contributions can be flexed through the district. Contributions are
taken from the first pay each month for ten months.
Late fees / bad
checks – 14 calendar days late will result in a charge of $30.00. 30
days late results in dismissal from the program
Member
contributions are subject to annual review of the trust and will be
determined by the cost of the coverage.
A member is
responsible to inform the trust of any change of family
circumstance.
A member is
responsible to inform the trust of any change of address, phone number or
e-mail address.
The member must
notify the trust two months prior to when a dependant will reach age
23.
The increase will
be determined based on the premium increase plus contribution.
Permanent/probationary employees on leave without pay will pay
the full cost plus member contribution. They have ten days to respond to
the trust regarding desire to remain covered and must contribute three
months payment upfront.
COBRA eligible
members must continue the specific coverage that they had at the time of
termination at the full cost and contribution determined by the
trust.
Part time teachers
pay the full cost and contribution determined by the trust.
Payments are due
to the trust as required.
To Current Members of the Dental Program...
The telephone number for the LTF Benefits Trust is
(716) 825-3226. Also remember your Dental coverage is GHI.
Members of the Dental Program must inform the LTF
Benefits Trust of any changes, such as address, phone number and family
member participation, failure to do so could result could result in
coverage difficulties with GHI. If your dentist is not a GHI participant
you need a claim form, that can be found in each building or you can call
825-3226 and one will be mailed to
you.
Gregory Liskiewicz, Trust Administrator
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02/06/08