August 7, 2023
LOS ANGELES – To mitigate the health eligibility impact on participants who lose DGA-Producer Health Plan coverage because of the work stoppage resulting from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the Board of Trustees of the Directors Guild of America-Producer Pension and Health Plans has unanimously approved a free major medical plan for participants and their eligible dependents who meet certain eligibility requirements. The Major Medical Plus Plan will offer network-only medical coverage with certain benefit exclusions and prescription drug benefits.
“I am proud to announce that the DGA-PPHP Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the creation of a critically important free major medical plan for Health Plan participants and their eligible dependents who have been financially impacted by the work stoppage, said President Lesli Linka Glatter in announcing the Board’s decision today. “This innovative effort by the Plans' trustees will help Plan participants facing financial hardship retain basic health coverage during this difficult time.”
What the Major Medical Plus Plan covers:
The strike related Major Medical Plus Plan will be offered initially for three months from October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 (with consideration for future quarters of eligibility to be determined later should the work stoppages continue). It will provide the following benefits:
- Network coverage, including mental health and substance abuse benefits
- Prescription drug coverage
- Emergency Services (with specific guidance regarding non-network providers)
Hearing aids, chiropractic, acupuncture and foot orthotics are excluded from coverage under the Major Medical Plus Plan, as are dental benefits, vision benefits and special arrangements with UCLA Health/EIMG.
Who Qualifies
To qualify for the Major Medical Plus Plan, members must have worked under the Basic Agreement or the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement and meet either of the requirements below:
- Members and eligible dependents who lost Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of June 30, 2023 and did not have sufficient earnings to requalify effective October 1, 2023 for the applicable work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and have at least $10,000 in initial compensation during the work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and the DGA-Producer Health Plan is your primary plan; OR
- Members and their eligible dependents who will lose Earned Active or regular Carry-Over coverage as of September 30, 2023 and did not have sufficient earnings to requalify effective October 1, 2023 for the applicable work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and have at least $10,000 in initial compensation during the work period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 and the DGA-Producer Health Plan is your primary plan.
Qualified participants may include their eligible dependents for the duration of the Major Medical Plus Plan coverage. Participants who qualify for the Major Medical Plus Plan will receive a letter from the Health Plan with information on how to elect the coverage.
Click here to see more details on the Pension & Health Plans Website