The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) has officially opened enrollment for a new Voluntary Income Protection Plan (VIP). According to certain reports, the stated plan will be underwritten by MetLife and administered by Union One, all while staying available exclusively to U.S.-based, full-dues-paying IUPAT members. Staying on Union One for a second, it makes for one crucial administrative partner, considering the fact it specializes in working exclusively with unions nationwide to help expand benefits offered to union members. Anyway, as for what the new initiative offers, the IUPAT VIP Plan brings to your disposal Short-Term Disability Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, and Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, with special family planning options available for women members. Furthermore, it packs together coverage for hazardous materials exposure, ensuring that members who develop conditions by working with and around chemicals and fumes can step away from work and fully recover. Talk about the given plan’s offerings on a slightly deeper level, we begin from Short-Term Disability (STD) cover, which has two different plans in itself. For starters, we have the Standard Plan, where you get upto $500/week for 24 weeks (24-hour coverage) or $1,200/week for 24 weeks (off-the-job). The other one would be the Family Planning Plan, which offers upto $1,200/week for 50 weeks, covering the length of pregnancy.
Beyond Short-Term Disability cover, there is also a Long-Term Disability cover, which is made up with similar plans as its shorter counterpart. Here, the Standard Plan fetches you upto $2,500/month for 2 years or $5,000/month for 5 years, with benefits stackable up to 70% of pre-disability earnings. Turning our attention towards the Family Planning Plan, it begins after 52 weeks of STD. Once in action, the plan supplies to its beneficiaries the same set of perks as the shorter package. The third and final highlight of IUPAT VIP Plan is its Life and AD&D cover, where you can come expecting coverage of upto $400,000 with options for spouse and dependent coverage.
Among other things, we must mention how the disability plans cover substance abuse, mental health conditions, and hazardous material exposure. Another detail worth a mention here is rooted in the fact that all coverage is guaranteed during open enrollment with no medical questions or tests required.
“We are proud to introduce this comprehensive Voluntary Income Protection plan administered by Union One, that addresses many of the critical needs of our members,” said James A. Williams Jr, General President of the IUPAT. “By offering coverage for hazardous material exposure and providing family planning options, a first in our industry, we are ensuring that our members have the support they need on issues critical to our union. This plan is a testament to our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our members.”
To expand upon the enrollment process, it is set to begin from August 15, 2024. Open enrollment will continue throughout 2024 and 2025, and members who enroll before September 25th have receive their coverage start on October 1st.
Making the whole proposition even more important, though, is the presence of IUPAT, an organization that currently represents and fights for more than 140,000 workers in the finishing trades across the United States. At present, IUPAT represents trades like primarily industrial painters, commercial and decorative painters, drywall finishers, glaziers and glass workers, sign and display workers, trade show workers, floor covering installers, and many more successful careers in the construction industry and public sector.
“This new Voluntary Income Protection Plan is a significant step forward in our efforts to support all members by pushing standards in our union upwards,” said Williams Jr. “By including family planning options, we are addressing some of the unique challenges women face in our industry. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all our members.”
