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Starting July 2023, the SASMI Active Plan will include an HRA (Healthcare Reimbursement Account) for eligible participants. Note that owners are not eligible to participate (for details, see Active Plan Definitions and Article II, Section 5 of the Active Plan).

The SASMI Active Plan HRA is an account that eligible members can use for reimbursement of certain medical expenses. It is funded with distributions from SASMI, based on the employer contributions received by SASMI. The Active Plan HRA is considered a “limited HRA,” which means that SASMI chooses the expenses that are eligible. Only prescription drugs and allowable over-the-counter medical items can be purchased through the Active Plan HRA.

For your Active Plan HRA to become available:

• You must have a total of at least 250 credits (currently $1 = 1 credit) allocated to you; and
• You must be eligible for SASMI benefits, not have lost eligibility under the plan, not have terminated participation, and not have lost qualification for benefits (see Active Plan Article II and Article XII). Also see FAQ 11–16 below.

When you have met the two criteria above, you are eligible to register for your HRA debit card. IMPORTANT: The debit card won’t automatically be sent to you. You must visit the member portal and register for it.

• Go to sasmi.org > Member Portal Login to get your card.
• Once you receive the debit card from WEX, the Active Plan HRA administrator, activate it and then you can start using it.

*See the addendum if you are a member of a local where the HRA debit card is unavailable.

On or about July 1 of each year, credits will be added to your Active Plan HRA, based on the contributions SASMI receives for work you performed in the prior calendar year. Credits are determined in an amount equal to 20% of the contributions received by SASMI, and each credit is worth one dollar. For example, Sam had $6,000 in contributions in 2022. Around July 1, 2023, he will have 1,200 credits (worth $1,200) added to his Active Plan HRA.

The Active Plan HRA will be accessible to eligible members through a debit card administered by WEX, which eligible participants can use to pay for covered medical expenses.

*See the addendum if you are a member of a local where the HRA debit card is unavailable.

The Active Plan HRA can be used to pay for prescription medication and allowable over-the-counter (OTC) items such as pain relievers, antacids, allergy and sinus medications, and first-aid supplies, at the pharmacy counter of your local drug store or grocery store. The HRA can also be used to purchase eligible items from a participating online FSA vendor. Currently, SASMI partners with the FSA Store at fsastore.com.

Yes. You can use these funds to pay for prescription drugs and allowable over-the-counter medical items for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents if they are covered under your SMART Health Plan. If your spouse or dependent is not covered by your SMART Health Plan, then they are not covered by this HRA.

Yes. You must be eligible for SASMI benefits and not have terminated participation (see Active Plan Article II and Article XII for details). If you lose eligibility, then your HRA debit card will temporarily be unavailable for use until you regain eligibility. See FAQ 10–16 for how the HRA debit card could be suspended or forfeited.

Note: You will not lose the ability to use your HRA card simply because you are ineligible for other benefits under the 200% rule or because you are ineligible for supplemental unemployment or underemployment benefits based on a failure to work 10% of the applicable group hours.

Yes. Your HRA needs to be at 250 credits for the account to become available the first time. After that, unless your account is suspended or forfeited (see FAQ 11–16), you can continue to use the balance in your account.

If your account balance drops to zero, your account will be inactivated until the next July allocation. Any amount allocated, even if less than 250 credits, will then reactivate your card and make it available for use.

Yes. Firstly, if you lose eligibility in your local SMART Group Health and Welfare Plan, your Active Plan HRA will be suspended. Secondly, SASMI pays a monthly fee for each card. If there is no activity on your card for 12 consecutive months, your card will be inactivated and you will be notified. You can call 800-858-0354 to get your card reactivated.

Call 800-858-0354 to request a replacement card.

Yes. Each July, if you are eligible, an allocation will be made to your Active Plan HRA whether you have activated your HRA card or your HRA card has been suspended for inactivity. All allocated credits will remain available until used unless forfeited or otherwise lost (see FAQ 14–16 below).

Yes. As with all SASMI Active Plan benefits, your Active Plan HRA can be forfeited if you lose eligibility, terminate participation, or lose qualification for benefits (as stated in the Active Plan), including if:

• You accept any employment in the sheet metal industry from an employer who is not party to a collective bargaining agreement with the international union or a local union;
• Your home local union takes an action that terminates or will at some future date terminate the provisions of the local union’s contracts; or
• You permanently cease employment in the sheet metal industry, accept permanent employment outside the sheet metal industry, whether or not you remain in your home local union, or become a partner or the sole proprietor of a business in the sheet metal industry.

If you transfer to a local union with no contracts or one with a contract only requiring contributions to HCRA-B, you will lose access to your Active Plan HRA. However, the remaining balance will be added to your Retiree HCRA at retirement if you are eligible. (See Active Plan Article XII(b)(2).)

If you have surviving dependents who were covered by your local SMART welfare plan, they can continue to use your Active Plan HRA as long as they remain covered. Your Active Plan HRA account balance will be forfeited if you die while an active participant and you don’t have any surviving dependents covered under your SMART welfare plan immediately prior to your death.

Like all SASMI benefits, the Active Plan HRA is not a vested benefit and, while the Trustees don’t anticipate this happening, they can at any time discontinue the benefit or modify the value of the credits (currently $1 per credit) in your account.

Yes. You are not required to take the steps to get your HRA card nor are you required to use the benefit if you do have the card. There is currently no limitation on how large the account can grow. See the question below for what happens if you have an Active Plan HRA balance at retirement. Also, see the FAQ on information about forfeitures and how the value of the credits in your account can change.

Yes. When the Active Plan HRA allocation is made each July, the calculation of your active benefits taken will be increased by the amount of the HRA allocation for purposes of the 200% rule (100% if you have more than $125,000 in contributions). The allocations will also be counted as active benefits when your severance (if applicable) and retiree HCRA are calculated.

Any Active Plan HRA balance remaining when you retire will continue to be available to you and your eligible dependents. The amounts from your Active Plan HRA, your retiree HCRA, and, if applicable, your service-based HCRA will all appear as a single account.

Members whose health coverage is through the following funds are affected:

• Sheet Metal Workers’ National Health Fund (Locals 5, 32 [Light and Commercial only], 54, 67, 214, 399, 435, 441, and the employees of CI Metal Fabrication);
• Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 85 Health Fund; and
• Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 15 Medical Fund.

The reasons are due to the type of prescription drug coverage that you have through your Fund. It’s just a technology complication of how claims are processed.

The good news is you can still use the HRA for your prescription and allowed over-the-counter expenses!

• Pay for your prescriptions as you currently do and submit your claim to your insurance carrier. When you receive your Explanation of Benefits (EOB), use the SASMI/WEX HCRA mobile app to upload the EOB so that you can receive reimbursement.
• If you shop for eligible over-the-counter items, you’ll need to upload your itemized receipt through the app to receive reimbursement.
• Download the SASMI/WEX HCRA app on the App Store or Google Play and use it to manage your HRA and get reimbursed. You can also access your HRA at wex.com.

Most of your personal information, including your group hours, can be found on the member portal.  After you log in go to “Eligibility & Activity” on the top of the screen and scroll down to the appropriate stabilization period.

To apply for any SASMI benefit, you can contact SASMI and we will send one out to you or you can contact your local union. A Local Union Representative will need to sign your application before it can be processed by SASMI.

In most cases, receiving a benefit as an active member reduces your retiree (HCRA) benefit. However, benefits like the Annual Physical Exam Benefit and the Vaccination Benefit are not “deduct” benefits and will not have an impact on your future active or retiree SASMI benefits.

Yes you can! You can apply for both benefits during the same stabilization period. Receipt of the Welfare Benefit will not reduce your Supplemental Unemployment/Underemployment benefit.

Visit the member portal and click on “Need a New Login” to get started. There’s also a quick video you can watch to help you register. Note that you will need your IA Number (must enter 8 digits), Social Security Number, and date of birth to register.

Yes. If you’re not working, or you’re working less than the average number of hours due to an illness or injury, you are eligible for benefits even if you are not receiving state unemployment benefits. To receive the benefit, you must provide medical documentation of your inability to work. You can contact SASMI and we will send one out to you or you can contact your local union. A Local Union Representative will need to sign your application before it can be processed by SASMI.

You can enter your bank account information and set up direct deposit from the member portal when you apply for online benefits, like the Annual Physical Benefit. Just upload a copy of a voided check.  If you had previously applied for an online benefit, verify the information on file is still correct. If so, you will not need to upload another copy of a canceled check.

Yes! If your local union welfare plan allows it, you can set up automatic payments of your premiums from your HCRA account. If your welfare fund is not able to do this, then you may submit claims for reimbursement.

If you pass away prior to retirement and if the contributions made on your behalf are greater than the benefits paid out, you may qualify for the Death Benefit. The benefit payable is based on a schedule using your years of Future Service Credit. Your surviving spouse is also eligible for up to 18 months of COBRA Continuation Coverage.

Your HCRA can still be accessed by your surviving spouse. Your beneficiary may be eligible for the Retiree Death Benefit, depending on how many years you’ve been retired.

You can change your bank account information and set up direct deposit only when you apply for online benefits through the member portal. If the information on file is no longer correct, you will need to upload a copy of a voided check to make changes. You can also contact the office and a representative can assist you.

You can check your SASMI benefits, including how much has been contributed, how much SASMI has paid to you, or how much you have in your HCRA on the member portal.

Yes! If they’re covered under your local’s health plan as your dependent, you will be eligible to receive SASMI’s Annual Physical Benefit on their behalf for receiving a physical exam. Spouses and children are eligible for $100 each per calendar year. As the member, you are eligible for $200 per calendar year. The maximum the whole family can receive each year is $600 total.

If you have received Supplemental Unemployment/Underemployment Benefits for two benefit periods, you are not eligible for either the third or fourth period of benefits unless you worked at least 10% of the applicable group hours in the previous stabilization period or had a verified disability.

In general, you cannot receive active benefits that equal more than 200% of the contributions received on your behalf. Your eligibility to receive benefits that equal up to 200% of contributions is capped at $100,000 in benefits. If you have received benefits equal to or in excess of $100,000, additional benefits will only be paid up to 100% of the contributions paid on your behalf.

If your eligibility for SASMI benefits ends after you receive benefits for 1, 2 or 3 stabilization periods, you can become eligible (or recycle) once you meet the initial eligibility requirements again. If you work during a stabilization period and you draw a SASMI active benefit, that period cannot be counted toward reestablishing eligibility.

Once your HCRA is approved, SASMI orders your original HCRA cards (you will receive 2) that will be sent to you upon production.  If you lose your card or desire additional cards you can request replacements or additional cards online thru the SASMI WEX Portal.

WEX is our HCRA vendor. Your HCRA debit card is issued through WEX, and to manage your expenses, you can visit the WEX Portal or download the SASMI HCRA app.

Depending on the terms of your SMART collective bargaining agreement, you may be eligible for a HCRA-B Benefit. The HCRA-B functions just like the regular HCRA Benefit, but the HCRA-B balance is equal to your contributions and compounded interest credits made by your employer on your behalf during your career.

The Service-Based HCRA replaces the former Retiree Health Premium Benefit. Some participants with 25 years or more of service at retirement may be eligible to receive a $12,000 deposit to their HCRA.

Unfortunately, no. The HCRA can only be used for eligible health care expenses. For a complete list of eligible expenses, visit https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf. NOTE: The SASMI Trustees have excluded expenses related to the construction industry.

New Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) that describe SASMI’s active and retiree benefits as of January 1, 2022 were mailed at the beginning of 2022. If you did not receive a copy, make sure the address we have on file for you is up to date on the member portal. If you became eligible for SASMI benefits after the SPDs were mailed, you may view an electronic copy or email the Fund Office at [email protected] to request a hard copy be mailed to your home.

To apply for any SASMI benefit, login to the member portal or contact the SASMI Fund Office for assistance.

Your local union keeps beneficiary information on file. Contact your local to change your beneficiary.

You can change your bank account information and set up direct deposit only when you apply for online benefits through the member portal. If the information on file is no longer correct, you will need to upload a copy of a voided check to make changes. You can also contact the office and a representative can assist you.

You can update all of your personal information on the member portal. Just navigate to the profile page. At the bottom of the page, you will be prompted to click a link.

SASMI Trust Fund
3180 Fairview Park Drive
Ste. 150
Falls Church, VA 22042

Once you log in to the member portal, you’ll be able to see all of your personal information, including your current contribution amounts, benefit amounts you’ve received, etc.

Here’s a link.

Visit the member portal and click on “Need a New Login” to get started. There’s also a quick video you can watch to help you register. Note that you will need your IA Number (must enter 8 digits), Social Security Number, and date of birth to register.