TeamCare offers assistance to members affected by Central Texas flash flooding
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
The Trustees of the Central States Health Fund are concerned about the devastating effect that the flash flooding has had on our TeamCare members in central Texas. National, state, and local officials have declared a state of emergency in certain areas and federal agencies continue to work to improve conditions.
During this crisis, the Trustees would like to assist our members in any geographical area where a state of emergency has been declared and remind them of the following TeamCare benefits to help them stay safe and healthy:
- Continued Coverage – For active members who are unable to work because of the flash flooding, TeamCare will provide continued healthcare coverage without COBRA contributions until August 2, 2025. This continued coverage will also be extended to covered family members.
- Vision Benefits – For active and retired members who have TeamCare vision coverage, if glasses or contacts were lost due to the flooding, TeamCare will waive the 12-month time limitation on new glasses or contacts.
- Prescription drugs through CVS Caremark
- TeamCare will reimburse retail and mail-order co-payments for prescription drugs that need to be filled due to being lost in the flooding.
- All limitations regarding “refill-too-soon” prescriptions have been lifted.
- Until mail service is restored, individuals currently using the Caremark’s mail-order service will be allowed to obtain their medicine at any retail outlet. TeamCare will reimburse for any additional costs incurred on prescriptions filled at out-of-network retail outlets.
- Out-of-Network health care providers – All penalties related to utilization of out-of-network health-care providers will be waived until August 30, 2025.
- Filing deadlines – All filing deadlines will be waived (i.e. Cobra, appeals, etc) until August 30, 2025.
- Mailings – Participants and retirees may instruct TeamCare to mail all correspondence to an alternative address outside of the affected area.
To have these benefits applied to any affected member, Local Union staff should contact Field Service Representative Cindy McGinnis at (847) 939-2184 or Michael Mullane at (847) 939-2297.
The Trustees’ thoughts and prayers are with our members and retirees during this disaster, and we will continue to evaluate the situation.
Click below to download a PDF version of this special bulletin.