Welcome to ATU Local 689

Care First Vision Care Update

Davis Vision is the new vision provider for Health & Welfare members enrolled in Care First PPO and Blue Choice. To locate a Davis vision provider go to www.carefirst.com and use the "Find a Doctor" feature.
Or call 1-800-783-5602.

Not all CareFirst PPO and Blue Choice vision service providers participate with CareFirst, so ask first before getting services. If you use a non-network provider you will need to pay the entire amount up-front and then submit your claim to Davis vision for reimbursement.

After you have the vision prescription from the doctor, two options are available:
1. If the doctor is in the PPO network and also in the Davis Vision network, you can get your glasses or contacts at a discount. A schedule is available from CareFirst or from the Health & Welfare office.

2. If the doctor is in the PPO network, but not the Davis Vision network, you can take the prescription to a Davis Vision location, and receive the above discounts.

You should compare these discounts with what else is available at local discount stores before making your purchase.

A more detailed description of these benefits will arrive in the mail soon.

Call Health and Welfare for more information: (301) 568-2294

Long Term Disability and Retirement Plan Update

Local 689 and the Authority have recently clarified the application of the disability provisions of the Transit Employees’ Retirement Plan (TERP) and their integration with coverage under the Health & Welfare Plan. Local 689 raised questions about the ability of an employee receiving Long Term Disability benefits under the insurance policy issued to the TERP by MetLife to continue medical coverage through the Health & Welfare Plan. The second question relates to the ability of a disabled employee to receive a Disability Pension from the TERP during the elimination period under the insured LTD policy.

(1) Employees receiving Insured Long Term Disability (LTD) Benefits, who would be eligible for Disability Pension except they are receiving Insured LTD benefits, can continue to participate in the Health & Welfare Plan on the same basis as an employee who is receiving a Disability Pension. (2) An employee who would otherwise be eligible for Disability Pension except for his/her eligibility for the Insured LTD Benefit may apply for and receive a Disability during the elimination period under the MetLife LTD policy. Once an employee decides to receive a Disability Pension during this elimination period, the employee will stop receiving credit for Continuous Service under the TERP. This type of Disability Pension will stop on the date the Insured LTD Benefit starts and will re-start if the Insured LTD Benefit ends.

The net effect of these clarifications is that no one will lose any benefits because of the changes made in the 2001 collective bargaining agreement which changed our disability retirement benefit to an insured benefit.