New health insurance law requires more info

Affected participants should respond quickly to avoid denial of benefits

A NEW LAW requires the Boilermakers National Health & Welfare Fund to collect certain information — including Social Security numbers — for participant dependents before the fund can pay claims. This information is specified in Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Extension Act of 2007, which was extended by Congress on Dec. 19, 2008.

Participants affected by the new law received notices outlining the needed information by March 30, 2009. If you received a notice but haven’t yet replied, you can still furnish the information in a safe and timely manner by using the secure Web Coordination of Benefits Form, found at the fund’s Web site at www.bnf-kc.com.

If you have any questions, please contact the fund’s customer care department, toll-free, at 1-866-342-6555.