Welcome to TEHW!
Transit Employees’ Health and Welfare Plan is dedicated to delivering a high-quality and unmatched customer service experience by employing innovative methods to empower health-conscious decisions for our members and their families’ well-being. We achieve this by collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders.
Local 689 full-time employees are eligible for health care benefits starting from their first day of employment.
New Hire Enrollment
You are automatically enrolled in single coverage under the default HMO plan (Kaiser HMO and Cigna Dental DHMO). An email will be sent from our Benefits and Eligibility team to the email address provided during orientation, as well as to your WMATA email. If you wish to switch to a different plan or add a spouse and dependents, you must complete an enrollment form and submit the required supporting documents within 30 days of being hired.
Waiver of Coverage (Opt-Out)
If you have other medical coverage and choose to decline coverage under TEHW, complete the Opt-Out form, and provide a copy of your insurance ID card (front and back) and your WMATA ID. You have the option to decline medical coverage when you are initially hired. Subsequently, you may only choose to opt out during the annual open enrollment period each year. You must provide proof of other coverage during each subsequent open enrollment period; otherwise, you will be re-enrolled in the last plan you selected or the default medical and dental plan.
*Please note that individuals with CHIP, State Medicaid, and Medicare health insurance are not eligible for monetary compensation in accordance with the Terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and IRS code Section 125.
Spousal Credit
If you have a spouse, they have the option to opt-out of coverage under the Transit Health and Welfare Plan. To do so, please complete the Spousal Credit form and provide a copy of your marriage certificate along with your spouse’s insurance ID card. By opting out, you will receive a monthly credit towards your employee contribution for Transit health coverage. This credit can amount to up to $100 per month, but it will not exceed your monthly contribution towards the coverage.
For families consisting of the employee, spouse, and one or more children, it’s important to note that the spousal credit will not entirely eliminate the contribution for family coverage.
Dual Eligibility
If two employees are married and covered under the Health and Welfare Plan, one of them must enroll in family coverage, and the other will be considered a dependent under that participant’s plan. However, a spouse or adult child (up to the age of 26) who is employed by Metro and enrolled as a dependent on another Metro employee’s plan is not eligible for opt-out or spousal credit.
Documents must be returned to Health & Welfare at or our office.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Health & Welfare at 301-568-2294. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Below, you’ll find links to some important documents: