INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALTH & PENSION PLAN - East Coast
Members of the Editors Guild fall under a powerful umbrella that offers not only the best wage scales in the world, but a group of health plans that are second to none and two pension plans that together provide robust support upon retirement.
The vast majority of Guild members participate in the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans. This Health Plan is widely recognized as one of the best plans in the country, or a choice of four HMOs. Members can switch plans once per year. The MPIHP allows members to see any doctor they choose and typically provides 85% of covered charges. Hospital benefits are provided through Blue Cross.
The HMO's provide most services at no charge. In addition, the Plan offers valuable prescription, vision, chiropractic, dental and mental health benefits. Eligibility for coverage is based on work hours: 300 hours in a qualifying period is all that is required (600 hours for first time coverage).
The pension portion of this Plan consists of two types of pensions. The first is a traditional "defined benefit" plan that provides a monthly check for life upon retirement, based on the number of years and hours worked. The second is an "individual account" plan that creates employer-funded investment accounts for each member, which are disbursed after retirement. In addition, retirees with 15 qualified pension years receive health insurance for themselves and their dependants—for life.
Details on these Plans can be obtained by visiting their website at www.mpiphp.org.
Some Eastern Region Guild members are covered by the IATSE National Benefit Funds. Employers such as New York Times Television, Digital Cinema and Sound One contribute to Welfare Fund Plan C, which uses Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO's. For information members should contact IATSE National Benefit Funds, www.iatsenbf.org