Jay Wedman Q&A

Below, you'll find the next installment in my ongoing series of emails, on this one I would like to address some of the questions I have gotten about our medical benefits.

Q: What kind of medical coverage does M.E.B.A. have?
A: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and OptumRx to provide you with prescription drug benefits, you can look at www.mebaorganizing.com for a list of different coverages.

Q: What is the cost of the medical coverage?
A: The medical coverage is built into our contracts as a benefit. The Medical Plan generally covers 80% of covered expenses for network providers.

Q: Is there a total out of pocket cost per year?
A: If you and your qualified dependents incur $3,500 in “out of pocket costs” in a calendar year, the Medical Plan pays 100% of covered expenses for your family for the remainder of that calendar year.

Q: What is the cost for additional dependents and is there a limit to the number of dependents I can have?
A: There is no additional cost to the member for eligible dependents and no limit to the number of eligible dependents you can have.

Q: Once we have voted for M.E.B.A., how do I get my medical coverage?
A: You and your eligible dependents become covered under the Medical Plan on the date you complete 30 days of covered employment in any 6 consecutive calendar months.

Q: What is covered employment?
A: Covered employment is any of the following: work onboard a vessel or in a covered shoreside unit, vacation days, converted OT vacation days, or days attending the training school.

Keep those questions coming and I look forward to seeing you in person the next time I am out on your vessel.

Captain Jay R. Wedman