Covid and Cobra Bulletin 04/26/21

 Bulletin

   4/26/2021

In Plant Vaccine for Wabtec Employees Offered

We are pleased to announce that Wegman’s Pharmacy has offered to come to the Erie plant to administer the Moderna Vaccine to any Erie facility Wabtec employee or contractor interested. Employees on a temporary layoff can also schedule an appointment for the dates listed below. To provide this service, Wegmans requires a minimum of 50 interested individuals.

While there is no charge for employees, your insurance card must be provided. The first shot in the series will be administered at the Fitness Center in Building 14 on either Friday, May 7 or Friday, May 14. Appointments, masks and physical distancing are required. If you are interested, please click on the date desired to schedule your appointment:

The second shot in the series will also be available at the plant and will be scheduled in person at the time of your first shot.

Wabtec is not mandating the vaccine.

COBRA Subsidy

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) provides that, for the period from April 1, 2021 until September 30, 2021, if an individual’s Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) qualifying event is an involuntary termination of employment or a reduction of hours (each, an “assistance eligible individual”), then 100% of the COBRA premium is paid by the employer, health plan, or insurer and the premium expense is reimbursed by the federal government through a refundable FICA tax credit.

Wabtec Human Resource informed the Union the updated COBRA notices are ready to send out and laid-off members should be receiving them in the mail soon. The notice will include guidance for members to reactivate their insurance if they opted out of COBRA at the time of their initial qualifying separation. Additionally, it will provide guidance to request reimbursements for April premiums and other advanced payments.

 If you have questions about your rights to COBRA continuation coverage, you should contact BCC’s Customer Service Call Center:

(800) 685-6100