Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IUPAT VIP Plan?
The IUPAT International Office has partnered with Union One (Benefit Administrator) and MetLife (Insurance Company) to provide the IUPAT VIP Plan, an exclusive opportunity for actively working, U.S.-Based Members to protect their income if unable to work due to injuries, illnesses, surgeries, pregnancy, mental health conditions, substance abuse treatments, exposure to hazardous materials, or death. It is a voluntary, supplemental insurance program that gives you access to guaranteed approved coverage for Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance.
When did this plan roll out?
The IUPAT VIP Plan was first rolled out on September 1, 2024. Since then, thousands of Members have enrolled.
Who is Union One?
Union One is the nation’s leader in income replacement benefits for labor unions. Exclusively working with organized labor, Union One has unmatched experience managing benefits for unions and their Members. Union One works on behalf of the IUPAT and its Members to provide a wide array of services, including education and enrollment, premium collection, administrative support, and claims advocacy.
What is UnionHub?
The IUPAT VIP Plan is committed to making it easier and safer for you to manage your income protection benefits. That’s why we’ve teamed up with UnionHub, a cutting-edge platform that transforms how you enroll and access these benefits and manage your payments – all in one convenient place. To learn more about UnionHub, visit iupatvip.com/unionhub.
Does the IUPAT VIP Plan cover you on or off the job?
Short-Term Disability (STD): There are off the job STD options, as well as a 24-hour, on and off the job option to provide you the greatest flexibility when determining what level of protection best suits your needs.
Long-Term Disability (LTD): All LTD options are 24-hour, on and off the job coverage.
Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): All Life/AD&D options 24-hour, on and off the job coverage.
What if I am held out of work by my doctor due to being exposed to hazardous materials – is that covered on the disability policies?
Yes, being held out by a physician due to hazardous material exposure is a covered condition under the IUPAT VIP Plan.
What is the Family Planning Option?
The IUPAT VIP Plan Family Planning Option is specifically constructed for female Members to provide added Short-Term Disability protection during pregnancy. This includes pregnant Members who are advised by a physician to refrain from work due to hazardous material exposure.
Does the International pay for the IUPAT VIP Plan?
No, this is a voluntary program that IUPAT Members have exclusive access to, but you must enroll and pay for the benefits yourself. By offering this benefit through the International, the VIP Plan is able to provide plan enhancements and lower pricing that would not be available if the plan was offered at the local or individual level.
How do I pay for this? Is it payroll deducted?
These benefits are paid for through a secure ACH Process, not payroll deduction. When you enroll through the UnionHub platform, you will be able to provide your banking account information (you can choose to have your monthly costs paid through either a checking or savings account) to set up your recurring monthly ACH Payments. At that time, you can decide if those payments are made once a month or twice a month, split into two payments. You determine which day(s) of the month payment is made.
Your payments will begin after your coverage effective date, on the day(s) you’ve chosen.
Please note, this will appear on your bank statement as “UNIONHUB PYMT” and your monthly costs for your elected benefits will be deducted on the day(s) you selected.
What are the costs?
Please visit the IUPAT VIP Cost Calculator at iupatvip.unionhub.com/calculator, a great tool for determining what options fit your budget.
How are the costs determined?
Your IUPAT VIP Plan costs are determined by the benefits and level of coverage you elect, factoring in your age on your coverage effective date. The IUPAT VIP Plan leverages the strength and size of the entire Membership to offer competitive group rates. The insurance company, MetLife, looks at the entire population, not any individual Member when determining the rates. This allows the rates to be guaranteed approved and lower for most Members than they can get on their own.
How do I enroll?
The IUPAT VIP Plan has rolling 60-day enrollments throughout 2025. This will allow Members to learn about the benefits and choose the best options. To enroll, go to iupatvip.com and click the “Enroll Now” button at the top of the page. The sooner you enroll, the sooner your coverage will begin. You can also speak with an IUPAT VIP Plan Service Center Advisor at 224-357-7880.
Am I covered the day I enroll?
No, each 60-day enrollment window has an effective date of coverage that occurs once the enrollment window closes. You will not be covered until that effective date.
What are the eligibility requirements to enroll in the plan?
- Membership requirement:
- You must be an actively working, full-dues paying Member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, living in the U.S.
- Employment and actively working requirement:
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You must be employed under a U.S.-Based collectively bargained contract on the effective date of coverage.
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You must be actively working on your effective date of coverage (based on when you enroll) to be eligible. This means performing your job duties for your employer on that specific date. If you are not actively working, your coverage will only start once you return to actively working status. “Actively working” is defined as working a full day as scheduled by your employer, performing the duties of your regular occupation.
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If you are not currently employed, meaning you do not have an employer, you are not eligible to enroll.
Why can’t I enroll if I am not working?
One of the things that makes the IUPAT VIP Plan unique is that it is guaranteed approved so that Members do not have to answer medical questions or submit to medical tests to get enrolled. The plan is able to do that because the insurance carrier (MetLife) underwrites the total Membership, not the individual Member. To protect the plan and ensure its longevity, there are a few parameters that Members must meet to get this guaranteed approved coverage, with the largest one being that you are actively working when you enroll.
Since the IUPAT VIP Plan has rolling open enrollment, you can enroll and get protected as soon as you return to work, ensuring you don’t miss the opportunity for coverage.
Once I am enrolled, are there any requirements to stay covered on the plan?
- Membership requirement:
- You must remain an actively working, full-dues paying Member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades living in the U.S.
- Maintaining employment and working status requirement:
- You must remain employed under a U.S.-Based collectively bargained signatory contract and meet the requirements below.
- Work hours requirement: You must work at least 750 hours per year.
- Continuity requirement: You must not have a break in active work longer than 6 consecutive months.
Are disabilities that occur before my effective date covered?
No, if your date of disability is prior to the coverage effective date, it will not be eligible for benefits, and you will not be covered under the policy until you return to active working status.
What if I have a pre-existing condition, will that be covered under the Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability coverage?
Yes, but only after you have been enrolled in those benefits for 12 months. In that 12 months, any disabilities that are caused by a pre-existing condition are not covered. After being enrolled in your benefits for 12 months, your pre-existing conditions are now covered.
All increases in coverage are subject to a separate pre-existing condition timeframe of 12 months.
Disabilities not caused by a pre-existing condition are covered Day 1!
How do the Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability policies define a pre-existing condition?
Both Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability define something as a pre-existing condition if both of the following are true:
- You received medical treatment, consultation, care or service, including diagnostic measures, or took prescription drugs or medications, or followed treatment recommendations for the condition, or are aware of but haven’t sought treatment in the 3 months prior to your effective date of coverage (or effective date of an increase in coverage).
- Your disability begins within 12 months of the date your coverage (or increase in coverage) under the plan becomes effective.
Are pre-existing conditions covered with Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) Insurance?
Yes, for Life and AD&D Insurance (Member, Spouse, and Dependent), pre-existing conditions are covered from Day 1!
What is the claim process, and how quickly will claims be paid?
Union One provides full Claims Advocacy Services to help walk you through each step of the process. When you need to file a claim, you simply contact Union One and a dedicated Claims Advocate will be assigned to you for the entirety of your claim. This will be your main point of contact, and your Advocate will help complete and gather all the information needed to submit your claim to MetLife. Once all information is gathered and submitted to MetLife, claims are approved within 5 business days on average.
Important information about this plan
IMPORTANT: The monthly cost for coverage is based on your age at the start of the coverage and will increase on the policy anniversary date after you move into a new age bracket.
Participation in this program is voluntary, and the decision to enroll rests solely with the Members. Members are responsible for bearing all associated costs. A $2 technology fee is included in all listed monthly costs for the following coverages: Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability. A $1 technology fee is included in all listed monthly costs for the following coverages: Member Life and Spouse Life.
IMPORTANT: If you depart from the IUPAT, opt out of paying dues, or retire, you must notify the IUPAT VIP Customer Service Center at (224) 357-7880. Not doing so within 90 days could delay or negate your eligibility for a refund.
We encourage Members to thoroughly review the complete policy booklet. Email info@unionone.com to request a copy.
This program is administered by Union One Benefits Administration.
This voluntary benefit plan is classified as a Safe Harbor plan and, as such, is not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Union does not contribute to the premiums for this plan on behalf of its Members, does not endorse the plan, and does not require Members to enroll in the plan. Furthermore, the Union receives no financial or other consideration in connection with the administration or promotion of this program.
For STD & LTD: These policies provide disability income insurance only and do NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical, or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Department of Financial Services.
For Life: You have 31 days to notify Union One of your retirement if you wish to port or convert your Life Insurance.
Group Insurance coverages are issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife). All Rights Reserved. METLIFE, and the METLIFE Logo are trademarks of MetLife.
