Extended Coverage Program

You may accumulate up to 50 points to use toward future eligibility. The following chart shows how points are awarded. For each four-quarter earnings cycle in which you earned eligibility, you have the potential to be awarded up to three points.

If you've met the covered earnings minimum during any earnings cycle ending on or after September 30, 1989, you:

• Get 1 point;
• Get a second point if you earned at least $100,000 during that earnings cycle; and
• Get a third point if you earned at least $200,000 during that earnings cycle.

Beginning January 1, 2001, the covered earnings minimum amount increased based on the MBA minimum.

* The covered earnings level will periodically increase by a proportional amount equal to any increase in the MBA minimum for a one-half-hour network prime-time story and teleplay for the previous calendar year over the second previous year.

Points are determined based on each earnings cycle (four quarters) that resulted in earned eligibility.

You have to accumulate 10 points to be eligible to receive benefits under the point system. If you subsequently lose eligibility for employer-paid benefits because of insufficient covered earnings within an earnings cycle, you'll be notified that you've been automatically placed in the Extended Coverage Program. The Fund will send you a statement indicating the number of points you've accumulated, the number of points you've used and the number of points available. You'll then "pay" for your coverage by exchanging points, as follows:

• 10 points for 4 quarters under the Regular Plan (2 1/2 points per quarter). Coverage includes medical (including hospital, prescription drug, vision and wellness benefits), dental, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance (AD&D); or
• 6 points for 4 quarters under the Low Option Plan (1 1/2 points per quarter). Coverage includes medical and hospital benefits only, with higher out-of-pocket costs.

(See Section 2 & 3: for specific information about your medical and dental plan options.)

Applicable points will be deducted for each quarter you receive benefits until:

• You're once again eligible for employer-paid coverage based on meeting the covered earnings minimum within the appropriate earnings cycle;
• You become a Certified Retiree (See definition of "Certified Retiree"); or
• You don't have enough points to continue to "pay" for your coverage.

If you die, your surviving spouse or same-sex domestic partner and covered dependent children can use your remaining points to extend their coverage. If you elect Certified Retiree health care coverage, your points will be forfeited.

When you've exhausted your points under the Extended Coverage Program, you'll be offered the option of purchasing COBRA continuation coverage. (For information about COBRA, see "COBRA Continuation Coverage".)

$200,000 Extension For Individual Writers
If you earn at least $200,000 in gross covered earnings in one earnings cycle but you don't earn enough in the next earnings cycle to be eligible for the Fund's health plans, the Fund will provide continuous coverage for another year by dividing the $200,000 covered earnings minimum equally between the two consecutive earnings cycles. If you do earn enough during the second earnings cycle to qualify for regular employer-paid coverage, you won't require the $200,000 extension, and the extension won't be carried forward. The Fund provides this extension automatically if necessary, so you don't need to take any action.

The $200,000 eligibility extension will be coordinated with the points awarded under the Extended Coverage Program. First, you'll be granted an eligibility extension based on the $200,000 extension and then, if necessary and if you've accumulated the required points, you'll be granted eligibility based on your accumulated points.

$200,000 Extension For Bona Fide Two-Person Teams
The $200,000 extension provision also applies to bona fide two-person writing teams that meet the covered earnings requirement. Income earned as part of the team - not individual earnings - will be considered for eligibility. This extension is not automatic. You must contact the Eligibility Department if you believe you qualify for the extension.