C o n n e c t i c u t C a r p e n t e r s H e a l t h F u n d P
l a n
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You
have certain rights and protections under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA): ·
You’re entitled to request, in writing, to examine at the Health Fund
Office or union halls all plan documents* between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday, except holidays. You may request copies of plan
documents at a photocopying cost to you of $0.25 per page. ·
You must receive a summary of the plan’s annual financial report. ·
No one — including an employer, your union or any other person — may
discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a welfare
benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA. ·
If your claim for a benefit is denied, you must receive a written
explanation of the reason why your claim was denied. ·
If you request it, the Board of Trustees must review and reconsider
your claim. ·
The people who operate the plan must do so prudently and in the
interest of you and other participants and beneficiaries. *Plan documents include insurance contracts,
collective bargaining agreements and all documents filed by the
plan with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Enforcing Your Rights You
can enforce your rights under ERISA. You may: ·
File suit in federal court if you request materials from the plan and
don’t receive them within 30 days. The court may order the plan to provide
the documents to you and award you $100 a day until you receive them, unless
they weren’t sent because of conditions beyond the control of the Board of
Trustees. ·
File suit in a state or federal court if you have a claim for
benefits that is ignored. ·
Get help from the Department of Labor or file suit in federal court
if the plan fiduciaries misuse the plan’s money or if you’re discriminated
against for asserting your rights. A Bit of Information If you file suit, the court may order the person
you’ve sued to pay all costs and legal fees. If you lose, or if the court
finds that your claim is frivolous, you may have to pay the fees.
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Information
About Your Rights
If
you have any questions about your rights under ERISA, contact the nearest
office of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor, listed in your telephone directory. You may also write to:
The Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington DC 20210
You
may also get publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by
calling the publications hotline of the Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration, at 1.800.998.7542.