Introduction

This book is a summary of your benefits from Connecticut Carpenters Health Fund. It has been written to give you the information you need to understand how your benefits work so you can use them to build a healthier future — for yourself and any eligible dependents you may have. In these pages, you’ll see how you become eligible for coverage and what benefits apply to you. Each benefit is described in a separate section with information about how it works. There’s also a glossary where important terms have been defined — again, to help you better understand and use your benefits. Some of these terms appear in the glossary key in the bottom right-hand margin. Other terms that relate to your benefits also appear in the glossary. Please take some time to read through this summary. You’ll find out how you can use your coverage to get healthier and how it can help you in case of a serious accident or illness. And if you have a spouse or dependents who may be covered, such as students living away from home, please share this summary with them. Benefit plans can change from time to time. For example, categories of eligible people can be excluded. The descriptions in this booklet apply to the year 2001 and later. Different rules may apply before 2001. If there are changes, you will be notified of these changes in writing at no cost to you. You should keep all notifications with this book so you have the most current information available. Personal or family situations also change from time to time. When they do, you should refer back to this booklet to make sure your coverage is keeping pace with your needs. You should also notify the Health Fund Office of changes in your situation. The information in this booklet is based on legal documents. If there are any differences or conflicts between information in this booklet and the plan document, the plan document will govern. The full Board of Trustees has discretion to interpret the plan. You should not rely on any individual or unofficial opinion about your coverage.

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