MOKENA, IL | The Union Trustees of the Teamsters Local 710 Health and Welfare Plan have secured extended healthcare protection for participants in the event a member to the fund is laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is great news for our fund members, especially when it seems like we hear nothing but bad news these days,” said Plan Co-Chair and Local 710 Secretary-Treasurer Mike Cales. “I’m so pleased the Plan Trustees and Administrators are able to provide this extremely important protection for our participants. Members should not have to worry about losing their health insurance during a health crisis.”

Participants to the 710 Plan as of March 28, 2020 who are laid off on or after March 29, 2020 shall be eligible to receive the same coverage under the plan for an additional four weeks at no cost to the member or their employer. This benefit may be used at any point during the COVID-19 pandemic, either all at once or in weekly increments to help the member retain continual healthcare benefits.

The Trustees, along with the Fund’s actuaries, consultants, and counsel, have ensured that the reserves of the Fund are able to safely cover the costs of providing this benefit.