TPI - FAQ: Questions About Insurance Benefits

TPI offers medical, dental, prescription, basic life, and optional life insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Click here to see a list of the benefits offered.

Q. Who is eligible?

All regular full-time employees who consistently work a minimum of 30 hours per week are eligible to enroll in the insurance benefits.

Q. When is my insurance effective?

Insurance is effective the 1st day of the month following your hire date (assuming continuous active employment) (e.g. start date is 7/15, eligibility date is 8/1). You have up to 30 days after your hire date to enroll in the group health insurance.

Q. When must I turn in my insurance enrollment form?

In order for your benefits to start on time, you must submit your enrollment form within 30 days of your hire date. The sooner you submit your enrollment form, the sooner you'll have your insurance card.

Q. If I do not want to elect insurance when I am first eligible, can I elect insurance at a later date?

Because our group health plan is part of a cafeteria plan, there are only two other occasions when you can elect to participate in our group health plan:

If you experience a change in status, you must notify the Benefits Department within 31 days of the event.

Q. What if I want to make changes to my existing benefits?

The same applies as in the above.

Q. When will my insurance deductions begin?

Your insurance deductions will begin the first paycheck after your insurance effective date.

Q. What is the group health plan name and number?

The group plan name is TPI, and the plan number is #04779.

Q. Do you offer supplemental insurance benefits?

Supplemental benefits are available through UNUM. They include short-term disability and long-term disability.

Q. How do I enroll in the supplemental benefits?

To enroll in or receive additional information on UNUM’s long-term disability insurance, please contact the Benefits Department at TPI.

Q. Do you have a flexible medical spending account?

We do not offer a flexible medical spending account at the present time.

Q. If my contract employment ends, when will my insurance end?

Your insurance will end the last day of the month in which your contract employment ends, with the exception of your life insurance, which ends on your termination date.

Q. After my contract employment ends, will I be able to continue my insurance coverage?

You can continue most group insurance coverage by electing COBRA coverage.

Q. What benefits may be continued under COBRA?

Medical, dental and prescription insurance coverage may be continued under COBRA. Group life and optional life cannot be continued under COBRA.

Q. When will I receive COBRA information notifying me of my healthcare continuation rights?

You will receive COBRA information via certified return-receipt no later than 30 days after your insurance ends.

Q. What is the time frame in which I have to elect COBRA?

You have up to 60 days from the date you receive your COBRA election form, via certified return-receipt, to complete the paperwork and return it to the COBRA administrator. You then have up to 45 days from the date you sign and return your election form to submit your first payment, which will be applied retroactively to the date COBRA coverage began.

Q. When are COBRA payments due?

COBRA payments are due in full the first of each month.

Q. What happens to my benefits between contracts?

Your benefits will continue until the last day of the month in which your contract employment ends. If your contract is extended or if you start a new contract in the same month in which your previous contract ended, your insurance will continue uninterrupted. If you do not start a new contract until after your insurance ends, you will be offered COBRA coverage. As long as you return within 90 days after your previous contract, your insurance coverage will be reinstated (with the completion of a new enrollment form) the date of your new contract and your COBRA coverage (if applicable) will cease.