Member Benefits

Specific eligibility and benefit criteria for each benefit are set out below.

Length of Service Condition: You must have completed your probationary period to use any of this benefit.

A navigator will be assigned to work with you throughout your participation in the Fund program. The Fund recognizes that academic, career and Fund programs and benefit advice is a critical component of the successful educational experience of its members. The navigators advise you as to the programs and benefits offered by the Fund, monitor progress, and discuss obstacles that may be hindering your success as well as benefits that may be available in the community relating to your education and career goals.

Assessment, education navigation and career counseling services are designed to help you select education and career goals that best match your skills, needs and personal circumstances. They also give you a realistic assessment of the job market. Through assessment, educational navigation and counseling sessions, navigators guide you into an appropriate program, and help you find ways to overcome obstacles that might prevent you from achieving your goals. The navigator may suggest you take one or more skills assessment before you are placed in a program. The tests measure ability in areas such as reading, writing, math, critical thinking and specific job skills. These assessments will help the navigator determine what the next steps should be toward academic, education and career goals. The Fund may also have job application review and interview coaching services available upon request.

Length of Service Condition: You must have completed your probationary period to use any of this benefit.

The Fund provides tutoring, workshops, academic support materials, and an English Language Learner (ELL) and Basic Computers program to help you improve your knowledge and skills for work, going to school, or applying to programs.

A. College Success Preparation:

B. Benefit levels:

1. 1. The amount of tuition assistance per calendar year shall be determined by the Board of Trustees in its sole discretion, and may be modified by the Board on an annual basis. In the case of funding or budgetary considerations, the Board in its sole discretion may reduce the annual amount of Tuition Assistance for any one or more bargaining unit classifications at any time.
   2. Benefit based on FTE status:
      1. a)  Employees with a .75 or above FTE shall receive 100% of the tuition assistance benefit level per calendar year.
         b)  Employees with .50 – .74 FTE shall receive 75% of the tuition assistance benefit level per calendar year.
         c)  Employees with a .49 or below FTE shall receive 50% of the tuition assistance benefit level per calendar year.
   3. The navigator will determine the appropriate course load based on criteria such as previous educational history and FTE status. 
   4. The Executive Director, in the Director’s sole discretion, may, after a review, modify the pro rated percentage of tuition assistance benefit based on a participant’s FTE status to the extent a participant’s navigator has confirmed in writing that the participant’s current FTE status directly results from a program’s formal course or training that restricts the ability to work additional hours.
   5. The calendar year benefit level against which eligible tuition assistance costs shall be applied will correspond with the year in which the class or course being paid for actually begins as opposed to the year in which registration or payment for the class or course may occur or the related program of study may begin.

C. Tuition assistance shall be provided for in-demand healthcare career positions available at participating contributing employers. These positions will be determined and prioritized from time to time by the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, within the following degree and program classifications including but not limited to:

1. 1. Service/Maintenance, LPN, & Non-Professional:
      1. a) Skills training certificate programs (i.e. CNA, Lab Assistant, MA, Surgical Tech, etc.)
         b) Associates degree and bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in occupations within healthcare.
         c) Pre-requisite courses in occupations within healthcare.
         d) Adult Basic Education (ABE), college readiness and preparatory classes.
   2. Professional/Technical
      1. a)  Associates degree, bachelor’s degree, and certificate programs in occupations within healthcare
         b)  Pre-requisite courses in occupations within healthcare
         c)  Master’s degree and or PhD as required to practice
   3. RN
      1. a) BSN completion
         b) MSN (primarily to address educating nurse faculty)
         c) Advanced Practice (ARNP’s)

Length of Service Condition: Employees in the Service/Maintenance, LPN, Non-Professional and Professional/Technical bargaining units who have passed probation are eligible for Professional Development and CEU benefits as outlined below:

A. Employees are eligible for up to $300 total for Professional Development and/or CEU benefits per calendar year, based on their FTE status.

1. 1. Employees with a .75 or above FTE shall receive 100% of the benefit level per calendar year.
   2. Employees with .50 – .74 FTE shall receive 75% of the benefit level per calendar year.
   3. Employees with a .49 or below FTE shall receive 50% of the benefit level per calendar year.

A) Employees are eligible for up to $300 per calendar year based on their FTE status:

 Length of Service Condition: Access to Fund benefits begins once the apprentice has been employed and accepted into the apprenticeship program.

A. Subject to the condition set forth in section 3.01.G, the Fund provides tuition benefits to members participating in the Healthcare Apprenticeship Consortium apprenticeship program as per 3.04 once the apprentice has been employed and accepted into the apprenticeship program. For non-apprenticeship related benefits, members must meet the Length of Service condition as set forth in this document.

4.01 | Overview

The Fund makes a distinction between claims for a program, course or benefit pre-approved by the Fund as a Plan benefit or contesting the application of the Fund’s benefits to your situation, and requests or claims that the Fund and/or its benefits be formally modified, amended, waived or exempted. For example, if you request benefits for programs and services not pre-approved by the Fund as a Plan benefit, such a request is in effect a request to modify the Plan document’s schedule of benefits. Such a request can only be considered and approved, in the sole discretion of the Executive Director, on a case-by-case basis as a request for Individual Exception to the Fund’s scheduled benefits. Requests for Individual Exception can be requested by contacting your navigator and providing necessary documentation to substantiate the need for the individual exception. A denial of a request for individual exception does not constitute a denial of a claim for benefits under the terms of this Plan document, and cannot be appealed pursuant to the Plan’s Article 5 – Benefit Claim Appeal Procedures.

5.01 | Overview

The Training and Education Fund wishes you success in whichever programs you have chosen to assist you in obtaining your employment/ career goals. Should you have questions or concerns while participating in our programs, please talk with your navigator.

An administrative review and appeal of your claim for benefits under the Fund is possible if your application for a program, course or benefit pre-approved by the Fund as a Plan benefit is denied or you are contesting the application of the Fund’s benefits to your situation.

Appeals concerning the Fund will be resolved in a three-step process. You have a total of 45 days to complete the first two steps that are required in filing an appeal to the Executive Director. If your appeal is denied by the Executive Director, you then have another 45 days to complete the third step, which is filing an appeal to the Appeals Committee. You waive your right to an appeal if you do not meet these timelines. Each step is a prerequisite in order to proceed to the next step.

5.02 | Step 1 – Conference with Navigator/Program Contact

Student will confer with the navigator/program contact to identify any facts or issues relevant to the claim that need explanation or clarification.

5.03 | Step 2 – Appeal to Executive Director

If the appeal is not resolved by the first step, the student may file an appeal in writing to the Executive Director. Step 1 and Step 2 must both be completed within 45 days of the benefit denial or claim arising. The appeal must include an explanation of the basis for your appeal and the Fund terms applicable to your claim. If the appeal is denied, a written denial notice will be provided to you within 45 days after the date your claim is received by the Executive Director, unless an extension of time is required due to special circumstances.

If your claim for a benefit is denied, the written notice will include the following:

• • The reason for the denial;
  • References to the specific Fund provisions on which the denial is based; and
  • An explanation of the Fund’s review procedure for appealing the denial.

5.04 | Step 3 – Appeal to Appeals Committee

If your appeal is denied by the Executive Director, you may file an appeal in writing to the Appeals Committee through the Fund Administrative Office.

• • The appeal must be filed within 45 days of the denial decision by the Executive Director; and
  • The appeal must be accompanied by an explanation of the basis for your appeal and the Fund terms applicable to your claim.

If the appeal is denied, a written denial notice will be provided to you within 60 days after the date your claim is received by the Appeals Committee unless an extension of time is required due to special circumstances. The Appeals Committee makes the final determinations on claims for benefits under the Fund. You must exhaust the administrative appeal procedures if you are contesting a denial of benefits or the application of the Fund.