Category: Healthcare
Railroader Healthcare Costs Remain Stable While National Averages Soar
While healthcare costs across the nation continue to soar, railroaders covered under the National Freight Rail Agreement will see their 2026 monthly contributions remain virtually unchanged. Read on to see how stable premiums, superior coverage, and decades of smart union negotiations keep SMART-TD members far ahead of national averages in healthcare affordability and protection.
H&W cost decrease in 2025 — rail members to save 10.2% in monthly contributions
Great news for railroad workers! Starting in 2025, monthly health and wellness contributions will drop by 10.2% because of fewer claims filed in 2024. This landmark achievement is a testament to the hard work and responsible choices of our members!
Deadline approaching for VLTD and VLIFE enrollment for rail, bus members
Time's running out for TD bus and rail members to enroll in the TD Voluntary Group Life (VLIFE) insurance and Voluntary Long-Term Disability (VLTD) insurance plans. The deadline is Aug. 23, 2024.Open enrollment for the SMART-TD VLTD and VLIFE plans begins for rail and bus members
Running until Aug. 23, 2024, members who do not participate in the SMART-TD voluntary long-term disability or voluntary group life insurance program have a chance to sign up!
Important change announced for rail H&W plans
Beginning on January 1, 2025, members who are covered under the nationally negotiated railroad health & welfare plans will have their pharmacy benefits transitioned from Express Scripts, Inc., to Optum Rx. This includes H&W Plan numbers GA-690100 (SMART-TD Plan), GA-2 [...]
SMART-TD has your back!
Starting from day 1, participants in our union’s Voluntary Short Term Disability (VSTD) plan can receive benefits if they voluntarily enroll and successfully complete a certified drug/alcohol treatment plan.
ERMA lifetime maximum benefit to increase in 2024
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $188,000 to $195,100 beginning Jan. 1, 2024. At the end of 2001, labor and management had agreed on various procedures to adminis [...]
No increase to 2024 H&W contributions for rail members in national plans
SMART-TD announces that there will be no increase to the monthly health & welfare contributions for eligible railroad members for all of 2024. On November 1, 2023, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson emailed notification to all affected members with email addresses on file [...]