International Funds

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH FUND (IHF)

Policy Updates for 2022 — No Surprises Act

At the end of 2020, the No Surprises Act was passed into law as part of the Continuing Appropriations Act (CAA) and went into effect for plan or policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. This important legislation establishes federal standards that will help to protect BAC members from balance billing for certain services, such as emergency care or treatment by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities.

When you see a doctor or other health care provider that is in the plan’s network you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copay, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or need to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that is not in the plan’s network, otherwise referred to as an “out-ofnetwork provider.” Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what the plan agreed to pay, and the full amount charged for a service. This is called balance billing. This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This happens when you cannot control who is involved in your care, such as when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility, but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

The No Surprise Act applies to individual, small group, and large group fully insured markets and self-insured group plans, such as the BAC International Health Fund (IHF). For the IHF, member cost-sharing for these specified outof-network items and services will be capped at in-network levels and will require providers to work with the IHF’s insurers, United Healthcare and Geisinger, to negotiate remaining bills. If they are unable to reach agreement, an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process, or arbitration, will occur to determine the reimbursement amount. IHF participants that believe they have been incorrectly balance billed should contact the IHF Fund Office at 1-888-880-8222.

NEW RALLY® REWARDS FOR 2022

The IHF is excited for the third year of the United Healthcare Rally® Rewards program. Rally is an app that can help you make simple changes to your daily routine, set health goals, and help you to stay on target to meet those goals. Members that participate receive rewards for taking healthy actions. The first of those actions is completing a quick Health Survey. Rally® will then make personalized recommendations just for you. You will be able to sync your tracking device, join a challenge, and all while earning virtual coins that can be exchanged for rewards.

Other health actions that earn you coins include completing an annual physical, completing a preventive screening, enrolling in the SavRx mail-order service, visiting the BAC Cares on-site clinics in Indiana or Missouri, completing a virtual visit, or participating in the Real Appeal program. Once members have earned enough coins, they can be exchanged for prizes including a BAC jacket, Bose Soundlink Bluetooth speaker, or can be donated towards a donation to the BAC Disaster Relief Fund.

This program is exclusively for members of IHF participating locals. Members can enroll online at www.myuhc.com or by downloading the “Rally by Rally Health” App and entering code BAC123. If you have any questions about the BAC Cares Rally® Rewards program, contact the IHF Fund Office at 1-888-880-8222. //

INTERNATIONAL PENSION FUND (IPF)

Putting BAC Retirement Investments to Work

The top priority of BAC pension fund trustees is safeguarding your retirement. While doing that, many BAC funds have discovered investments that provide solid returns for our pensions while also creating jobs and work hours for our active members.

Pension trusts are increasingly considering ways to have a multipart investment approach, and that has led to interest in Economically Targeted Investments (ETIs). ETIs are investments that generate an additional benefit to a standard investment return. These benefits include the creation of thousands of union jobs associated with new construction, rehabilitation of invested properties, and the added return of new contributions into pension plan assets for working union members.

The most successful ETIs in terms of producing work for BAC members are the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT), the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust (BIT), ULLICO’s J For Jobs Fund, and the Multi-Employer Property Trust (MEPT). All the construction projects completed by these groups are done with 100 percent union labor.

HIT, BIT, J for Jobs, and MEPT are four great options for pension fund trustees looking to put BAC member pension contributions to work for our members and prove that our pension funds can do more for us than provide a secure retirement. //

ELECTRONIC DISCLOSURE INFORMATION AND CONSENT

The Bricklayers and Trowel Trades International Pension Fund is required by the IRS / Canada Revenue Agency to annually furnish all Participants with a 1099-R / T4-A related to their retirement benefits. Participants may choose to receive these forms electronically in lieu of the paper version.

If you wish to receive 2022 your tax forms in electronic format, you can elect to do so in one of two ways:

1. Sign this form and return it by email to Pension

Payroll@ipfweb.org or by fax to (202)347-7339 or by mail to IPF Pension Payroll, 620 F Street, NW,

Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004 2. Email PensionPayroll@ipfweb.org and state your name and “I consent to receive Form 1099-R / T4-A in electronic format in lieu of receiving a paper copy.”

or

Your consent is subject to the following. Please read all of the following Disclosure information.

• IRS regulations require that Participants must affirmatively consent to receiving their Form 1099-R electronically.

• A Participant who consents to receiving his/her Form 1099-R / T4-A online will not receive a paper copy. If a Participant does not consent to electronic delivery, he/she will continue to receive a paper copy of Form 1099-R / T4-A.

• A Participant who elects to receive his/her Form 1099-R /

T4-A online can also receive a paper copy by contacting the Pension Payroll Department at the Fund Office at (888) 880-8222 or PensionPayroll@ipfweb.org. Request for a paper copy does not withdraw the Participant’s consent for electronic delivery of future Form 1099-Rs / T4-As.

• A Participant’s consent to receive Form 1099-R / T4-A by electronic format will remain in effect unless a written withdrawal is received. A Participant can withdraw his/ her consent and request a paper statement at any time.

An Participant can withdraw his/her consent to online delivery either by emailing PensionPayroll@ipfweb.org or by mailing a letter to the Pension Payroll Department at the Fund office at 620 F Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004. If consent is withdrawn, it will be effective only for those Form 1099-Rs / T4-As not yet issued.

• All Participants should be aware that the Form 1099-R /

T4-A, even when provided electronically, may need to be attached to their annual tax returns, including federal, state and local tax returns. Participants may print as many copies as needed.

• The hardware and software requirements needed to access the 1099-R / T4-A statement electronically include an internet connection, web browser, and Adobe Acrobat reader or similar PDF reader software.

• It is the Participant’s responsibility to notify the Fund Office of any changes to their personal information, including their email address, by emailing PensionPayroll@ipfweb.org or by calling the Fund Office at (888) 880-8222.

• I hereby permit the IPF to enroll me in the BAC Member Portal which is also a benefit of my union membership.

Please sign and return to have your tax forms emailed to you at the following email:

Name

Signature IU #

Date