When other life events occur


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Notify the AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds when any of the following occur:

1. You need to change your beneficiary
Enrolled participants covered under the Individual or Family Health Plans are eligible for a $30,000 life insurance benefit* through a group insurance policy issued by Aetna for AFTRA Health Plan participants. The death benefit is payable to your designated beneficiary. To designate or change your beneficiary for the Health Plan’s life insurance benefit, complete a new Performer Enrollment Form or call Participant Services at (800) 562-4690. 


Under the AFTRA Retirement Plan, if you’re married when you retire, your spouse is automatically your beneficiary for Retirement Fund benefits, unless your spouse consents in writing (on the Application for Retirement Benefits Form) to you naming another person. But if you’re unmarried (or your spouse consents in writing), you may change your designated beneficiary at any time before you begin receiving your pension. To designate or change your beneficiary for Retirement Fund benefits, complete a new Designation of Beneficiary Form or call Participant Services at (800) 562-4690.

2. You become eligible for other health coverage
If you are considering declining or dropping coverage in the AFTRA Health Plan because you qualify for coverage under another health plan, refer to the 2011 Health Plan SPD and relevant Benefits Updates to learn about the possibility of coordinating benefits between the AFTRA Health Plan and another health plan (one providing primary coverage and the other providing secondary coverage). The rules that govern coordination of benefits are complex, and special rules apply to the coordination of benefits with the Screen Actors Guild - Producers Health Plan. Call Participant Services at (800) 562-4690 with questions you have about coordination of benefits.

3. You retire
If you retire between the ages of 55 and 64, you may continue your individual or family coverage under the AFTRA Health Plan if you meet certain qualification requirements and pay premiums for coverage on time. Early Retiree Program coverage provides the same medical benefits that are provided under active coverage as described in the 2011 Health Plan SPD and relevant Benefits Updates. However, Early Retiree Program coverage does not include dental, life, accidental death and personal loss benefits. 

For any life event affecting your coverage, you must notify AFTRA H&R in writing. Please send this notification, along with supporting documentation, to the address below:

AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds
Attention: Eligibility Department
261 Madison Avenue, 7th floor
New York, NY 10016

For definitions of some of the terms listed on this page, visit the online health and retirement glossaries.

Questions? Call Participant Services at (800) 562-4690.

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* While this benefit is available to participants, it is not available to dependents on the AFTRA Health Plan.