All active IBEW Local 1245 members are now eligible to enroll in the union’s new Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits and enhanced Term Life Insurance program at no additional cost.
The new $25,000 AD&D policy offers 24-hour coverage for all active members. The death benefit has increased from $1,000 to $2,500, and the $500 benefit for spouses remains the same.
There is no increase in union dues for these added benefits.
Beneficiary Designation: Members must have a “named beneficiary” to whom benefits will be paid in the event of death. Many members have already named beneficiaries, but thousands have not. We encourage ALL members to name a beneficiary. Should you die without one, death benefits are paid to your estate, which is subject to creditor claims plus administrative fees. Each state has its own set of rules regarding who gets paid what after all claims are settled and fees paid.
If you haven’t designated your beneficiaries, please download and complete this form, and return it to benefits@ibew1245.com or by mail, PO Box 2547, Vacaville, CA 95696.
Click here to download the spousal consent form.
Click here to view the group term life insurance certificate.
Retirees who are continuing to pay IBEW non-working dues are eligible for a $1,000 death benefit. Contact the email above or click here for a copy of the class 2 certificate.
Click here to learn more about your new benefits. We encourage you to print a copy of this information for your records.
Background
In the second half of 2015, a number of units made motions to propose an increased death benefit. The IBEW Local Union 1245 Executive Board requested that then-Business Manager Tom Dalzell investigate options, and Dalzell worked with Local 1245 do so.
After reviewing several insurance options, the union ultimately settled on the purchase of a fully insured product. Keeping in mind the unit proposals were likely prompted by the accidental death of a member that occurred in 2015, the union negotiated a new $25,000 AD&D policy, which will offer 24-hour coverage for all active members. Local 1245 also negotiated a significantly improved death benefit plan, which will increase the benefit from $1,000 to $2,500, and still keep a $500 benefit for spouses, for about the same cost as the old death benefit policy.
In July, the IBEW Local Union 1245 Executive Board unanimously approved these options to be voted on by members at unit meetings in August and September. The amendments were overwhelmingly approved by every unit, and the vast majority of units voted unanimously in favor of these changes. After adding up the votes from all of the unit meetings, the bylaws amendment ultimately passed by a vote of 1,096 YES to 10 NO.