Welfare Notes - January 2002

January, 2002

Retirees
To help speed the process of paying pensioner claims, the Welfare Plan will be initiating a new claim form. This new claim form will be filled out by the pensioner for each claim mailed to the Welfare Plan. The Welfare Plan processed a record number of claims in the last year and this number will increase now that retirees spouses are eligible for benefits. We will also see large increases in individual claims reflecting the increase in the annual medical allowance.

The new claim forms are going to be required along with itemized bills for each patient. In order to expedite payment, all claims being submitted for reimbursement must include a completed new claim form. As an example, if you have doctor bills for yourself and your wife, you will need to separate your claim from your spouses. In other words one claim form must be submitted for your claim, and another claim form submitted for your spouses claim. Please also remember that bills submitted with a balance forward or amount due that do not itemize the charges are not acceptable and will be returned. We also require the name of the provider, the date of service, the patients name, and a description of services on medical and dental statements.

The new claim forms will be made available in the following ways. You may pick up the forms at any Union Hall or branch. New claim forms are currently being included with all reimbursement checks being mailed to retirees. You may also call the Welfare Plan office and request new claim forms.

Active Members
The Andrew Furuseth School of Seamanship is producing a video that will soon be made available to the membership. This first video will include a series of splices. The video will demonstrate different mooring line splices with 8 and 12 strand lines and also include different wire splices.

We expect the video to be made available in mid February. Copies will be sent to each Union Hall and branch office. Copies will also be sent aboard all S.U.P. contracted ships. A limited number of videos will be made available to members on an individual basis. Details will follow on how to obtain a copy of this video.

SUP Welfare Plan
Rich Reed, Welfare Plan Representative 
450 Harrison Street 
San Francisco, CA 94105

E-mail: supwelfarerep@hotmail.com