Production & Maintenace Employees. With regard to benefit plans set forth in Article II, Section 1, you and your eligible dependents are eligible for on the first day of the third month following your date of hire (Eligibility Date), except for Disability Income. Eligibility for Disability Income is the first day of the eighth month following your date of hire (Eligibility Date). If you are absent from work on the day you would normally become covered, you will become covered on the day you return to full-time, active work. The following information applies to Competitive employees only: When you enroll in Medical benefits your benefit election (including waiver of coverage) will remain in effect throughout the calendar year. You may not make a change to your medical coverage election until the next annual enrollment period, unless you have a life event change (see examples below). This is because you are making your required medical contributions on a pre-tax basis (before taxes) and the IRS requires certain rules are to be followed. Pre-tax contributions are taken from your pay before Federal, Social Security and (in most locations) State taxes are taken. Because your taxable income is reduced, you pay fewer taxes and you never have to pay tax on that income. This reduction in pay has no effect on the value of your life, accident, S&A and long term disability coverage or any other benefits based on pay. Eligible dependents may be added (or dropped) during your annual enrollment period or within 31 days of the life event change. Examples of life event changes include the following: • Marriage, divorce, legal separation, • Birth of a child, adoption or placement for adoption, • Death of a spouse or child, • When your child is no longer an eligible dependent, • You, your spouse or your child lose coverage under another benefit plan or that coverage is significantly changed (your spouse loses his/her job or is reduced to part-time status), or • Your COBRA coverage continuation period ends from another employer. If you do not enroll your new dependents within 31 days, you must wait until the next annual enrollment period to do so. You must also drop your ineligible dependents within 31 days to reduce your medical contributions.
