Health Insurance
Pension, health and 401(k) benefits are provided by the Equity-League Benefit Funds. The Funds are an independent organization with offices located at 165 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036 on the 14th floor. For more information, visit www.equityleague.org or call 212-869-9380 or 1-800-344-5220 (outside of New York).
Hospital and medical benefits are administered by CIGNA. Prescription drug benefits are administered by OptumRx. An optical plan, administered by Davis Vision, provides eye coverage. Dental coverage is available to participants on a voluntary self-pay basis through CIGNA.
In California, New York and Washington, D.C., participants may choose an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan.
There is an "Open Enrollment" period in November every year, during which participants may make or change decisions regarding medical coverage (CIGNA vs. HMO), dependent coverage and/or dental coverage. Listed are examples of common changes made during the Annual Open Enrollment Period:
- Switching from an HMO Plan to the CIGNA Plan or vice versa.
- Adding self-paid dependent coverage for any qualified dependent not already covered under the Health Fund.
- Choosing to add or change self-pay dental coverage.
Any change made during the Annual Open Enrollment Period becomes effective on January 1 of the following year.
How many weeks must I work in order to qualify for employer-paid health coverage?
Equity-League Benefits Fund offers three coverage levels, and eligibility is earned for six months at a time. The level of coverage for which you qualify is related to the number of weeks you work in covered employment:
If you work 16 weeks or more in covered employment during a 12-month "accumulation period" (sometimes referred to as the "lookback period"), you qualify for six months of Tier 1 coverage. If you work at least 14 weeks in covered employment during the accumulation period, you qualify for six months of Tier 2 coverage. If you work at least 12 weeks in covered employment during the accumulation period, you qualify for six months of Tier 3 In-Network Only coverage. Learn more about the differences among the tiers.
Participants are evaluated for health coverage eligibility after the end of each month and there is a two-month waiting period after the 12-month accumulation period ends before coverage can begin (e.g., if you had 12 weeks of covered employment for the 12-month period ending on December 31, your Tier 3 coverage could begin as early as March 1 the following year). You have the option to defer your coverage start date, subject to whether the required weeks are available in the subsequent lookback period. The cost to participate in the coverage level for which you qualify is $300 per quarter.
For more information visit My Health Plan on the Equity-League Benefits Fund website.
When you lose job-based insurance, you may be offered COBRA continuation coverage by your former employer. Learn more at Healthcare.gov.
In the state of New York, eligible entertainment industry employees may receive government assistance in maintaining health insurance during episodic employment. Learn more about the New York State Continuation Assistance Demonstration Program for Entertainment Industry Employees.
Pursuant to federal law, the Equity-League Pension, Health and 401(k) Trust Fund is a separate organization which is jointly administered by labor and management. The Board of Trustees of the Equity League Funds is made up of an equal number of Trustees representing both Actors' Equity and various management bargaining associations. The Trustees have a legal fiduciary responsibility to the Funds. All Trustee decisions are implemented by a Fund Administrator (hired jointly by labor and management Trustees) who supervises the Funds' staff and operations. The Funds are housed in separate offices and are NOT a subsidiary or department of Actors' Equity Association.