Life Support - Page 2

A Message from Your CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund

CCPOA Disability Benefit Program:
Gold Shield Occupational Rider
Officer Martinez* was at home on a Saturday morning working on his new deck when the symptoms began. Pain radiated down his left side and shoulder. Sweating heavily, he asked his wife to take him to the emergency room. There he learned he had had a mild heart attack.

Officer Martinez joined Corrections three years ago. He didn't keep a lot of time on the books and his savings were slim. He had a family and a home to take care of. This was not the time for him to be without a paycheck. When he reported the incident at his facility, he learned that his heart attack was considered "presumptive." So even though the heart attack happened off-duty, it was considered a Workers Compensation disability.

That's when the fun began. He filed for Workers Comp. No news. No benefits. After a month, he received a letter. His case was denied by SCIF. Still no money from the state. He was off work, and he kept having symptoms. Would the state's reluctance to accept his claim mean he would have to go back to work, sick as he was, to make ends meet while his Workers Comp case went through its appeals process? (*not his real name)

For Officer Martinez, a call to the Trust allowed him to stay home and recover, because at the beginning of his career he applied for the CCPOA Gold Shield program. Because he enrolled in the additional Occupational Rider, he was able to meet basic living expenses. The Occupational Rider portion of the Gold Shield program provides him with a provisional benefit while his Workers Compensation case is processing. If he wins his case, he will be paid from Workers Comp and will be required to pay back the provisional benefit—minus the minimum benefit, which he keeps. If he loses his case, he keeps every dime.

Not every correctional officer is enrolled in the Occupational Rider in Gold Shield. Those who aren't may face a significant hardship if they have an occupational illness or disability. Remember, if you are an officer out on an occupational disability and the case is not yet approved, you do not receive a benefit from the state. It can take months or even years for some cases to be approved.

If you have family depending on you, not a lot of time on the books, and monthly bills, we strongly suggest you educate yourself about the CCPOA Disability Benefit Program and its Gold Shield-level Occupational Rider. This disability program was designed by officers who understand you need to be able to cover basic living expenses if you become disabled. The premium for this coverage is $65 a month for the basic program, and $23 a month for the Occupational Rider. That's only $88 a month for the peace of mind that comes from being prepared.

Every month, the Trust Fund provides benefits to hundreds of officers who are on a disability status because they enrolled in the CCPOA Disability Benefit program before they needed it. If you haven't enrolled yet, please visit our website or call us for more information and enrollment materials at www.ccpoabtf.org or (800) IN UNIT 6.

Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Active CCPOA members—including supervisory members—have a rich benefit program provided by CCPOA and VSP Vision Care. A voluntary vision program is also available to our retiree chapter members.

If you haven't had your eyes examined in the last 12 months, take the time to arrange a visit to your eye doctor. To find a new provider, simply call VSP at (800) 877-7195 or go online to www.vsp.com.

Many CCPOA members don't realize that eye examinations can reveal a lot about your health. Protecting your vision health is vital. But did you know that your eye examination may also reveal medical conditions such as hypertension, glaucoma, high cholesterol and diabetes? Don't take chances with your health. Your CCPOA Benefit Trust is available to help you learn how to maximize all your benefits so you can take advantage of the many ways to enrich and maintain your good health. Visit us online at www.ccpoabtf.org, or call us at (800) IN UNIT 6.

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