How do I become eligible for Culinary benefits?
To be eligible, you must work in a position covered by a collective bargaining agreement between a contributing employer and one of the unions participating in the Culinary Health Fund.  You must complete 360 work hours in a 3-month period, then wait one month (the "lag month").  The chart below matches your work hours with when you get benefits.

I just became eligible for Culinary benefits. How do I make sure my family is covered?
You need to come to the Fund's Customer Service Office to enroll your eligible family members as soon as you become eligible.  Remember to bring your marriage license and birth certificates for your children when you enroll.  If your family members have other insurance, you also need to bring that information with you so that we can coordinate benefits with the other insurance.

I just got married.  How do I add my spouse's name to my medical/prescription ID card?
Bring your marriage license or certificate with you to Customer Service to enroll your spouse. You should receive a new ID card that includes your spouse within 4 weeks .

Once I become eligible, how do I keep my Culinary benefits?
Work at least 240 hours in each 2-month work period to keep your benefits in a future eligibility period.  For example, you need to work 240 hours in January and February to be eligible for coverage in May and June (see chart below).  If you do not have 240 reported work hours for a 2-month work period, you can self-pay for any hours you are "short".

My child is turning 19, but is a full-time student.  How do I make sure his benefits continue?
The school needs to send a letter showing your child's name and your name/social security number. The letter also needs to show that s/he is enrolled as a full-time student.  Bring the letter to customer service, or call 733-9938 to fax it. A letter must be submitted every year before October 1st for fall semester and February 1st for spring semester for your child to keep coverage.

PROBLEMS WITH MY ELIGIBILITY:

My employer did not report all of my work hours.  How do I get help with this?
You can call Customer Service to check on the work hours reported for you by your employer.  If not all of your hours were reported, notify Customer Service and they will contact your employer to verify the hours reported.

I went on vacation, but my vacation hours were not reported for the work period I was gone.  How do I get help on this?
Employers usually pay you before you go on vacation. If they count those hours when they paid you, instead of when you were gone, you have too many hours in one work period and not enough in the next. You can contact Customer Service and explain when your vacation hours were taken.  They will contact your employer to verify when your vacation was to determine if the hours were credited to the right period. If not, your employer will move them to the right period. It is important that you contact them right away when this happens, so that your coverage is not disrupted.