Life Insurance Benefits for Railroad Workers and Retirees

Joseph A. Singer, Local Lodge 1012 Secretary-Treasurer, wrote the BMWE JOURNAL and suggested that it would be a good idea to again place information in the JOURNAL about life insurance benefits. We agreed.

The life insurance benefit is provided through the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company under the Railroad Employees' National Health and Welfare Plan Group Policy GA-23000.

The benefit for eligible employees is $10,000. Eligible employees are 1) employed by a participating railroad; 2) represented by the BMWE (or other participating railway union); 3) covered by a collective bargaining agreement providing for coverage under Group Policy GA- 23000; and 4) a resident of the United States.

The benefit for retired employees is $2,000. To be eligible, an employee must retire to receive an age or disability annuity under the Railroad Retirement Act on or before the date his or her life insurance as an eligible employee terminates and he or she applies for the annuity within 24 months after the date his or her life insurance as an eligible employee terminates. This requirement does not apply to an eligible employee who dies within the 24-month period.

In order to verify if you are an eligible employee or retiree through the Railroad Employees' National Health and Welfare Plan you can contact Metropolitan Life Insurance Company at 1- 800-310-7770 or write them at MetLife, P.O. Box 6122, Utica, New York 13504.