Effective January 1, 2008
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
- Retiree
- Surviving Spouse
- IHHA Staff
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 hold a valid groom’s license from the State of Illinois;
4. 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);
5. Must derive at least 75% of their income from being a groom.
6. Must sign up monthly with employment verification using an IHHA furnished form;
7. 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;
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; Must be able to prove with a satisfactory explanation and provide documented proof to the IHHA.
6. Must have at least 75% or 400 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.
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 have a valid trainer’s license from the State of Illinois;
4. 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;
5. Must derive at least 75% of his/her income from Harness Racing;
6. New applicants must meet these requirements during the 180 day eligibility period.
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; Must be able to prove with a satisfactory explanation and provide documented proof to the IHHA
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.
If you do not meet the criteria listed under the Driver or Trainer section above, you may still be eligible to participate in the IHHA Insurance Program by paying the full premium in effect at the time, if:
· You have a valid Driver’s or Trainer’s license; and
· You must have at least 75% of your USTA recognized programmed starts take place in the State of Illinois in the preceding 12-month period;
· You are able to document through your previous year’s Federal Income Tax return that at least 75% of your income was derived from training and/or driving standard bred horses, and
· You are an IHHA member.
If you meet all of the following criteria, you will be classified as a “Retiree” and eligible to participate in the IHHA Insurance Program.
1. Must be a resident of the United States;
2. Must be a former member or member’s spouse who is currently covered under Medicare part A and B;
3. Must have been licensed as a Trainer and/or Driver at least 25 years in the State of Illinois;
4. Must have been covered under the IHHA Insurance Program for at least 10 years immediately preceding retirement;
5. Must have maintained continuous eligibility for the entire 10 year period immediately preceding retirement or have been covered under Tenure.
Tenure
1. Must be a resident of the United States;
2. Must be a minimum of 57 years old;
3. Must have been licensed as a Trainer and/or Driver at least 25 years in the State of Illinois;
4. Must have been insured with the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association for the last 4 years and 15 years overall;
5. Must apply within 180 days after last participation day in the insurance program;
6. Tenure rate will be the same as Retiree rates.
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.