Motion Picture Industry Health Plan Offers Eligibility Assistance Amid Double Strike

The Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans — which provides benefits to a significant number of union members in the entertainment business — is offering health insurance eligibility assistance amid a double strike that has made qualifying challenging for many workers in the business. Certain industry workers will be granted additional qualifying hours so that they can remain eligible for health insurance during the work stoppages, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Typically union members who are already participants of the Plan must work at least 400 hours in a six-month period to maintain their benefits. With two strikes having essentially shut down scripted union production in the U.S. since May, this criteria has become increasingly difficult for many to meet. Per the changes, workers will receive up to 201 credited hours to qualify for health insurance, depending on the qualifying period that applies to them. To qualify, workers must be enrolled in the Plan prior to their benefit period and pay health premiums. “MPIHP is in the process of identifying eligible Participants and implementing the credit/grant of hours,” IATSE Local 600 wrote in an email announcing the changes to members. “Participants who are eligible will receive a letter informing
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