July 10th, 2021 UPDATE

Dear SOS Members,

Hello, everyone.  We hope you are well and thriving.  As promised, we remain committed to keeping you fully informed. 

  1. As the legal complaint to reestablish our earned/promised benefits continues to make its way through the process, the court has rescheduled the oral argument in the Asner action. A date has not yet been set but we anticipate it will be in late August. The argument will be on the defendant’s request to dismiss the case.  We will keep you posted once a date has been established.

Meanwhile, another lawsuit has been filed on behalf of SAG-AFTRA members against the union and certain union officials for violations of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA): https://www.classaction.org/media/fisher-v-screen-actors-guild-american-federation-of-television-and-radio-artists-et-al.pdf

2. Here is news about Medicare supplemental coverage options that you should know.  

Entertainment Health Care Solutions (EHIS), on behalf of the Actors Fund, the MPTF and the AFL-CIO, has put together two new Anthem PPO group Medicare supplemental plans which will only be available to SAG-AFTRA members:

  • Premier Advantage Plan

  • Value Advantage Plan

These plans are available 7/2021 and will continue to be available every month thereafter.

While the monthly premiums are higher than previously with our senior performers’ health plan, the new options may be better than what was offered through VIA benefits. If members are unhappy with the Medicare supplemental plan they have chosen for this year, they can change their plan even if it is in the middle of the year.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER ON THE FORMS BELOW.  IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR HRA BENEFITS, YOU MUST GO THROUGH THE EHIS OFFICE. DO NOT LEAVE A VOICEMAIL. INSTEAD, USE THE LINK BELOW. COMPLETE THE FORM AND EHIS WILL CALL YOU BACK TO COMPLETE ANY CHANGES OR ENROLLMENTS.

https://theactorsfund.submittable.com/submit

Comparisons of the two plans and all costs/prices are in the attached pdfs.

We do not intend to use this platform for union politics, but we would be remiss not to inform you that the Union elections for President, Secretary-Treasurer, National and Local Boards, and Convention Delegates are upon us, and the outcomes will have a manifest impact on how the Health Plan is managed going forward.

THE SAG-AFTRA PRESIDENT & NATIONAL BOARD

  • Appoint Trustees to the Health Plan

    • Oversee eligibility requirements 

    • Oversee Management of the funds

  • Appoint Negotiating Committees

    • Negotiate Employer Contributions

  • SAG-AFTRA President Chairs the Negotiations

The views on the Health Plan issue which are held by those currently in office, and which we believe are contrary to your best interests, have been made clear from the date of their disastrous announcement on August 12, 2020. Their positions are available through the formal Union communications.

3. Most of the individuals who designed this SOS site are now active in the election this summer. Most of them are campaigning and running on the MembershipFirst slate. The group has published a detailed platform with an extensive “plank” dedicated to this Healthcare issue. If you would like more information, visit: MembershipFirst.com

If you would like to receive direct information about the campaign, please

Email: Union@MembershipFirst.com

Onward!

Your SOSHealthPlan Team

Attachments:
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Guide
Anthem AFL-CIO 2021 Plan Highlights
Anthem AFL-CIO Part D Formulary
Anthem AFL-CIO Plan Benefit Comparison