Fund Info

Annual physical required to lower deductible in 2025 under Blue Cross Self-Funded Plan options

In 2023, the Board of Trustees instituted an annual physical exam requirement for those on the self-funded medical plans offered by the Automotive Industries Welfare Plan in order to receive a lower calendar-year deductible.

The deductible amounts are now in place for the 2024 calendar year but participants and their spouse or domestic partner (if applicable), who get an annual physical exam anytime in 2024 will be moved to the lower deductible level in the 2025 calendar year along with all dependent children.

The physical exam can be taken any time before December 31, 2024 and requires the Plan’s certification form to be sent to the Trust Fund Office. Physical Exam certification forms are available to download at the Trust Fund website at www.aitrustfunds.org. A separate form must be submitted for you and your spouse or domestic partner (if applicable) to reduce your deductible for the 2025 calendar year.

If you have questions about what current deductible level you are in, please contact the Trust Fund Office at 800-635-3105 or by email at AISupport@hsba.com.

On disability? Submit your claim form on time with all required information

Contracts that have negotiated the Short Term Disability benefit available through the Welfare Plan will provide up to 80% of your hourly wage when combined with your State Disability or Workers’ Compensation payments.

If you need to file a claim with the Trust Fund Office, make sure you have provided all the required information with your claim form. Missing or incomplete information will cause a delay in your receiving weekly payments from the Plan. Any and all questions can be answered by contacting the Trust Fund Office at (800) 635-3105 before you submit your claim. You can also submit questions by email to AISupport@hsba.com.

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act went into effect. This law prohibits medical providers from “balance billing” you when you get emergency care or get treated by an-out of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

You are protected from balance billing for:
• Emergency services: If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as co-payments and co-insurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
• Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center: When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network. If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact the Automotive Industries Welfare Plan at 800-635-3105, by email at AISupport@hsba.com, or by visiting www.aitrustfunds.org for assistance. Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.

Pension plan searching for former participants

Currently, approximately 2,000 current or former union members who are entitled to receive pension payments under the Automotive Industries Pension Plan have not applied for their money. If you know someone who used to work in the industry during the 1970s or 1980s, is over age 65, and is not receiving a pension payment from the Trust Fund, they could be missing out on monthly payments from the Plan. Have them contact the Trust Fund Office at 800-635-3105 for a review of their work history to see if they are eligible.

Have issues?

The Member Assistance Program can help with many life-related stresses, including relationships, work issues, grieving, bankruptcy, depression, real estate and so much more. Call the number below for confidential services and referrals.