Who is Union Valley Benefits Insurance Agency?

Kern County Public Employee’s Insurance Agency, doing business as Union Valley Benefits Insurance Agency is a fully owned subsidiary of Kern County Public Employees Association, which was the original union later made into the legacy local SEIU Local 700 and now is SEIU Local 521.

How did Union Valley Benefits Insurance Agency start?

In the 1980’s employees with the County of Kern had no employer sponsored life insurance.  During negotiations it was agreed the Union would develop, coordinate and sponsor insurance for the members if the County of Kern agreed to provide the initial $10,000 life insurance for all employees of the County of Kern (including management, supervisory and safety as well as the miscellaneous employees).  Insurance agencies are considered a for profit company, so to meet the life insurance needs of the members and follow the law Union Valley Benefits Insurance Agency was established.  This program has stayed in effect to this day, and we are now expanding to offer these great deals to all members of SEIU Local 521.

Will agents come knocking on my door or calling and pressuring me to buy insurance?

NO! Union Valley Benefits Insurance Agency has open enrollment periods for the $100,000 guarantee issued life insurance (which will be posted on www.MyValleyBenefits.com), and has both casualty and AFLAC insurance members can sign up for at any time. Unless you specifically ask to meet with someone, no one will pressure you or your fellow employees to sign up for any of the insurance. You can either choose to take it or not.  No one associated with Union Valley Benefits Insurance Agency makes a commission as their income, so they are not dependent on whether they pressure people into buying insurance or not.

I am older, and not in the same physical condition I was in a few years ago. Can I still get the $100,000 life insurance?

YES! With no medical exam you can get up to $100,000 in life insurance for you and up to $50,000 for your spouse or domestic partner, and up to $10,000 for each of your children. This is a term life insurance policy and you may only enroll during an open enrollment period. With the exception of the original locations (County of Kern, Kern County Courts, SJVAPCD, and the City of Bakersfield) all insurance will be billed to the individual policy holders on a quarterly basis. There are limitations on the insurance. You must be actively working at least 20 hours a week for the insurance. Your spouse may only get a maximum of 50% of what the employee chooses (example: if the employee chooses to take $20,000 in coverage for themselves, then the spouse can only get a maximum of $10,000). (For details of the limitations see plan information booklet). It is just that easy. Keep your eyes on your union bulletin board for open enrollment announcements.

Are any open enrollment periods currently scheduled for this insurance:

YES! Beginning on May 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011 Kings, Monterrey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties and all SEIU Local 521 agencies within those counties will be eligible to enroll in this insurance. Contact your shop steward or e-mail Vicki Avila and let us know when you are planning a section meeting, chapter meeting, steward meeting or any other type of meeting in which there will be groups of members and we can arrange to have people to explain the program and let people sign up.  You can also sign up on this website.  You do not have to answer the health questions, but please make sure you include your start date, birth date, your spouse or domestic partners information, and have both yourself and spouse/domestic partner sign and date the application.  If more information is needed you will be contacted.