Eligibility

IHHA GROUP INSURANCE PLAN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for coverage for yourself, your spouse and your dependents under the IHHA administered group health insurance plan you must be classified as one of the following and meet the criteria for that classification. All participants will be reviewed quarterly to see if they have met eligibility requirements for the past 12 month period.

Classifications:
- Groom
- Trainer
- Assistant Trainer
- Driver
- Surviving Spouse
- IHHA Staff

Groom

If you meet all of the following criteria, you will be classified as a “Groom” and eligible to participate in the IHHA Insurance Program.

1. Must be a resident of the United States;
2. Complete 180 days of eligibility after application for insurance (not applicable for any person who is currently covered on the IHHA insurance plan, participants and dependants);
3. Must be a member in good standing of the IHHA;
4. Must hold a valid groom’s license from the State of Illinois;
5. Must be listed as a full-time employee of a licensed trainer(s) who satisfies all of the requirements for trainer eligibility listed below (other than the requirement for IHHA membership);
6. Must derive at least 75% of their income from being a groom.
7. Must sign up monthly with employment verification using an IHHA furnished form;
8. A groom’s spouse and/or dependents who hold a trainer or driver’s license issued by the Illinois Racing Board are not eligible to participate on the family plan;  
9. Must not be eligible for spousal or dependent covrage of a person who satifies all of the requirements, other the IHHA membership, listed below for trainer or driver eligibility.
10. I also understand that I may be asked to provide copies of employees W 2's and or  1099's for verfification of employment.

A Groom is not eligible for grooms insurance if they are eligible as a dependent of an insured Trainer or Driver unless the total subsidy paid by the IHHA on the two separate policies is less than the subsidy paid by the IHHA on a family policy.

Trainer

If you meet all of the following criteria, you will be classified as a “Trainer” and eligible to participate in the IHHA Insurance Program.

1. Must be a resident of the United States;
2. Complete 180 days of eligibility after application for insurance (not applicable for any person who is currently covered on the IHHA insurance plan, participants and dependants);
3. Must be a member in good standing of the IHHA;
4. Must have a valid trainer’s license from the State of Illinois;
5. Must derive at least 75% of their income from Harness Racing;
6. Must have at least 75% or 400 total  or 40 starts per quarter of all their USTA recognized programmed starts take  place in the State of Illinois in the preceding 12-month period.County Fair starts are included. Out of state Stake Races and Late Closers will not count against you in the Start Criteria. 
7. New applicants must meet these requirements during the 180 day eligibility period;
8. All new applicants also need at least 28 starts in the State of Illinois in the past 12 months.  Starts may be earned during the eligibility period.
9. Once the trainer is on the insurance, he or she must have a minimum of 24 starts as the listed trainer of record in Illinois in the preceding 12 months to remain eligible as trainer (Since this is new starting in 2010, and only for this year, if you did not meet this criteria from 2009, you will be allowed to start with the insurance if you have fewer then the 24 starts but you must have at least 6 starts in the first quarter of the year, 12 by second quarter and 18 by third quarter to stay on for the year.  Starting 2011, there will be no exceptions. 

Assistant Trainer

If you meet all of the following criteria, you will be classified as an “Assistant Trainer” and eligible to participate in the IHHA Insurance Program. 

1. Must be a resident of the United States;
2. Complete 180 days of eligibility after application for insurance (not applicable for any person who is currently covered on the IHHA insurance plan, participants and dependants);
3. Must be a member in good standing of the IHHA;
4. Must have a valid trainer’s license from the State of Illinois;
5. Must be listed as a full-time employee of a licensed trainer(s) who satisfies all of the requirements for eligibility listed above, other than the requirement for IHHA membership;
6. Must derive at least 75% of his/her income from Harness Racing;
7. New applicants must meet these requirements during the 180 day eligibility period.
8. I also understand that I may be asked to provide copies of meployee W 2's and or   1099's for verification of employment.

Driver

If you meet all of the following criteria, you will be classified as a “Driver” and eligible to participate in the IHHA Insurance Program.

1. Must be a resident of the United States;
2. Complete 180 days of eligibility after application for insurance (not applicable for any person who is currently covered on the IHHA insurance plan, participants and dependants);
3. Must be a member in good standing of the IHHA;
4. Must have a valid license to drive Illinois standard bred horses;
5. Must derive at least 75% of his/her income from Harness Racing;  
6. Must have at least 75% of his/her USTA recognized programmed starts take place in the State of Illinois in the preceding 12-month period;
7. New applicants must meet these requirements during the 180 day eligibility period;
8. All new applicants also need at least 140 starts in the State of Illinois in the past 12 months. Starts may be earned during the eligibility period.

Surviving Spouse

A surviving spouse will be covered for a period up to ½ of the amount of time that a member had been a participant in the IHHA Insurance Program, not to exceed the laws of COBRA continuation. This coverage will have a minimum period of 2 years unless the surviving spouse becomes Medicare eligible in which case they are no longer eligible for COBRA.

IHHA Staff

Full time staff will be eligible for coverage for themselves and their dependents 180 days following their date of hire. Full time will be classified as working at least 35 hours per week and 90% of their earned income is derived from working for the IHHA.

Other Eligibility Requirements

If you leave the state for less than 90 days, you may continue in the IHHA Insurance Program with the subsidy, provided you have met the “start” requirements for the 6 months prior to your departure, and have had continuous coverage in the IHHA Insurance Program.

If you return to Illinois, you may revert to the subsidized premium effective the 1st of the month following your return and you do not have to complete the 180 day waiting period.

If you elect to race or train outside the state of Illinois for more than a 6 month period, you will be terminated from the IHHA Insurance Program. Should you return to the state, you will be subject to the eligibility criteria listed above.

No reciprocity agreements will be recognized if you are coming to race in Illinois from another state. You will be treated as a “New Applicant” and must meet the eligibility criteria listed.