Frequently Asked Questions:
BBS Benefit Solutions
General Questions
Several Reasons:
- We issue you an insurance contract which cannot be changed except by our mutual agreement. Some “job insurers“ are funds or programs that have the ability to reduce your discipline days by action of their Boards of Directors.
- The State of Michigan audits our operation to make sure that we are paying claims properly and putting the interest of the members (our owners) first.
- As an insurance cooperative, our financial performance is public record. Funds or programs do not have to make public filings about their operations and finances.
Our corporate structure is the best in the business for protecting member rights. You get a written, enforceable contract that can only be changed by mutual agreement of both parties. You have the security of knowing that the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services audits our performance every year to make sure that LECMPA is being managed for the benefit of the members.
As a member, you are an OWNER of the Association. And since we are not-for-profit, we can concentrate on using our members’ money to pay covered claims, not trying to satisfy shareholders who aren’t union transportation workers.
Our members are our owners. We are not-for-profit and have no investors who want to make money from our operation. This lets us concentrate on paying covered claims and doing what is best for our members.
No. LECMPA is an independent, member-owned Association, not affiliated with any labor organization. We support all transportation labor. Our responsibility is only to our own members.
Eligibility Questions
LECMPA members are employed in a variety of transportation industry crafts and trades. Requirements for membership include:
- A union transportation worker in good standing and subject to discipline.
- Program eligibility determined by your previous incidents and discipline history.
- You must not be on any type of probation.
Effective dates vary by employer, depending on the arrangement in place with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local. Our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, can provide you with this information. Call BBS Benefit Solutions at 1-866-902-2561.
Yes, you will receive a policy with the details of your coverage. You will also receive a copy of the application. Remember, your application is part of the policy. Be sure to check both over carefully for accuracy. Put the policy in a place where you can easily find it.
Application Questions
Contact our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, at 1-866-902-2561. Indicate you would like to apply for coverage with LECMPA.
Yes, contact our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, at 1-866-902-2561. Indicate you would like to adjust your coverage.
Once we receive your completed policy application, if you are eligible, policy issuance depends on the arrangement in place with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local. Our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, can provide you with this information. Call BBS Benefit Solutions at 1-866-902-2561.
No. Once the application is approved, you may receive the balance of the application month and the entire following month free. This can vary by employer, depending on the arrangement in place with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local.
Calculating Your Coverage Questions
LECMPA coverage is calculated based on a 7-day week, so you need to start with your average gross monthly wage. Take that amount and divide by 30 for the acceptable daily rate. Remember that coverage is issued in increments of $3. So for example, if your average monthly gross is $3,600: $3,600/30 = $120/day maximum.
LECMPA insures your “average daily wage,” which means your taxable income for services provided to your employer. Expense allowances, “per diem,” and similar types of reimbursement are not wages, and LECMPA cannot insure them. You can generally tell the difference because wages are taxed and other types of payments are not. If you are in doubt, contact the Home Office to discuss your concerns.
Claims Questions
You can call us during business hours at 1-800-514-0010, or request forms on our website. Click here to request claim forms.
When you request claim forms, we will send you a packet with an explanation of what we need. You will need to complete a Notice of Claim, which includes an explanation of the incident resulting in discipline. You must also file a witness statement, a copy of your charge letter, discipline notice, and a copy of a recent pay stub and voided check. In some cases, you may be asked for additional information, such as the transcript of the investigation or your work history.
In order to be fair, we review claims in the order in which they are received. Most claims are reviewed within a week of when all documents are received. We make claims payments weekly.
We pay claims on Wednesdays, by electronic transfer to the bank account of your choice. You will be paid until your policy limit is reached or you are offered return to service, whichever comes first.
Until your suspension is completed, you are offered reinstatement, or your policy limit is reached, whichever happens first.
Most claims made by LECMPA members are paid promptly and without incident. However, you have two opportunities to appeal a denied claim. You may ask the Appeal Board to review your claim. The Board is comprised of railroad and transportation labor professionals with decades of experience adjusting disciplinary cases. Our internal review usually takes about 60 days. You also have the right to request a review by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.
No. When a member succeeds in recovering lost wages from an employer, after appealing discipline, LECMPA does not require repayment of dispersed benefits.
Inactivating a Policy Questions
If a member is off work an entire calendar month due to military or reserve leave, medical leave for illness or injury, FMLA leave, furlough or taking a full-time position with a union or an exempt position, the policy can be inactivated and no premium is payable while the policy is inactive.
A member cannot inactivate their policy if off work due to discipline. This applies to those who have not or do not intend to file a claim for benefits and those who have already exhausted their job insurance benefits. Premium payments must be kept current the entire time a member is off of work due to discipline.
To inactivate or reactivate a policy, contact our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, at 1-866-902-2561. If a policy has been inactivated, it is the member’s responsibility to notify the Home Office to reactivate the policy upon returning to work.
Premium Payment Questions
Premiums collected through payroll deduction vary by employer, depending on the arrangement in place with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local. Our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, can provide you with this information. Call BBS Benefit Solutions at 1-866-902-2561.
We require payment in advance, so your payment must be received in the Home Office by the last business day of this month for next month’s premium. For example, we must have your May payment in hand no later than April 30 or the last business day of April.
You have a 10-day grace period to bring your account up to date. We will notify you by mail if your account with us is delinquent. After ten days, your policy will not be in force and you would not be eligible for benefits if you are held out of service. After 30 days your Accidental Death coverage will also lapse. Late payments can be made by calling the Home Office, online or by check. Contact the Billing Department to update credit/debit cards or bank accounts in order to make sure your premium payments stay up to date.
LECMPA does not send payment reminders or statements to members who utilize payroll deduction to pay their monthly premiums. You are required to make regular monthly payments. If your payment is not received by the 11th of the month that is owed, you will receive a notice stating that your policy has lapsed, and you will not have coverage until your policy is brought up to date. Once your premium is paid, your coverage will resume the next day.
Loyalty Appreciation Dividend Questions
Yes, the Loyalty Appreciation Dividend is payable one time: when you retire at age 55 or over, or when you retire with a full occupational disability. You must be an active member of LECMPA at the time you retire.
The Loyalty Appreciation Dividend is available only to those who remain members up to their retirement.
If your policy has not yet been terminated, you can contact the our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, to bring your payment up to date so there is no lapse in coverage. Call BBS Benefit Solutions at 1-866-902-2561. You can keep your accrued days, if applicable.
You may be able to reinstate your policy by paying for the months you missed. Call our partner, BBS Benefit Solutions, at 1-866-902-2561 to discuss your situation.
Inactivating your policy stops the count of eligible premium months but does not terminate your policy. When you return to work, your paid months of membership are added to those already accrued.
Claims don’t affect your dividend. You can collect even if you’ve had claims.
The Loyalty Appreciation is based only on your most recent policy.
Yes, you will be asked to send us proof of retirement from your employer.
We will accept your resignation letter as long as it shows your retirement date, name and employee identification number.