Scheduled Benefits (Union)
Taking care of yourself and your family is another good reason to work at BNSF. As a BNSF employee, you are valued. You work hard and your contributions to making BNSF a world transportation leader make a difference. So, in addition to the paycheck you receive extensive benefits.
The different unions that represent the various craft groups at BNSF have each worked with the company to assemble benefits programs that meet the needs and interests of their members.
These highlights are intended as a guide for prospective employees. If there are any conflicts between these highlights and the applicable policies/plan/agreement documents, the policies/plan/agreement document will apply.
Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan, NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan- Benefits for all crafts except UTU begin on the first day of the calendar month after start of compensated service
- UTU Employees Only: Benefits begin the fifth month of tenure. Example: hire date May 4th benefits begin September 1
- All crafts have a monthly employee contribution payment once coverage begins
- Medical coverage options for employees and eligible dependents
- Mail order prescription drug benefit for employees
- Mental health and substance abuse care benefit for employees and eligible dependents
- Life Insurance for employees only
- Accidental death and dismemberment for employees only
- Dental & Vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents after one year
- Supplemental sickness benefit plan for shop craft, BMWE and BRS employees starting on the 5th consecutive day of disability with maximum benefit period of 12 months
- Wife or husband
- Children, including natural children, stepchildren, adopted children and grandchildren who have their legal residence with employee and are wholly dependent for maintenance and support, who are:
- Unmarried and under age 19
- Unmarried and between ages 19 and 25 if: (a) registered full-time student (b) wholly dependent for care and support and (c) have their legal residence with employee
- Unmarried and over age 19 who: (a) are wholly dependent for care and support and (b) have permanent physical or mental condition that began prior to age 19 and (c) are unable to engage in any regular employment and (d) have their legal residence with employee
Managed Medical Care Plan (MMCP), where available, for eligible employees and dependents
In-network benefits:
- Physician should be an in-network provider for full benefits
- No annual deductible
- No claim forms
- $20 charge per physician office visit, routine physical/preventive care and well child care
- $35 charge per office visit for all other providers
- $25 per emergency room visit (restrictions apply to non-emergency visits)
- 100 percent of all covered charges, including inpatient and outpatient hospital, same-day surgery, skilled nursing facility (up to 60 days per calendar year), physician hospital visits, diagnostic tests, surgery anesthesia, hospice care, and home health care
- $0 out-of-pocket maximum per year
- Unlimited lifetime maximum benefit
- “Portability” when temporarily out of service area
Out of network benefits:
- Annual deductible of $300 individual, $900 family
- 75 percent of all covered charges after deductible, including physician office visits, emergency room care, in patient and out patient hospital, same-day surgery, skilled nursing facility (up to 60 days per calendar year), physician hospital visits, diagnostic test, surgery anesthesia, hospice care, and home health care (up to 40 visits per year)
- $2000 out-of-pocket maximum per person, $4,000 family, per year (excluding deductible and office or emergency room visits)
- $1,000,000 lifetime maximum benefit (excluding deductible and office or emergency room visits)
- Routine physical/preventive care and well child care not covered
- Annual deductible of $200 individual, $400 family
- 85 percent of all covered charges after deductible, including physician office visits, emergency room care, inpatient and outpatient hospital, same-day surgery, skilled nursing facility ( up to 31 days per hospitalization), physician hospital visits, diagnostic tests, surgery anesthesia, hospice care (up to $3,000), and home health care
- $2000 out-of-pocket maximum per person, $4,000 family, per year (excluding deductible and office or emergency room visits)
- $1,000,000 lifetime maximum benefits (excluding deductible and office or emergency room visits)
- Routine physical/preventive care and well child care not covered
- For other than employee on-duty injuries, Patient Advocate must be notified prior to hospital or other confinement, certain outpatient surgical procedures and diagnostic test, home health care, or private duty nursing
- $10 generic co-payment per 22 to 90 day maintenance drug prescription
- In-network benefits: 100 percent inpatient expenses: $15 co-payment per outpatient office visit
- Out-of-network benefits:
- Annual deductible of $100 individual, $300 per family, per year (including CHCB maximum)
- 75 percent of all covered charges after deductible
- $1,500 out-of-pocket maximum per person, $3,000 family, per year (including CHCB maximum)
- $100,000 lifetime maximum benefit
- Active Employees - $20,000
Additional for Accidental Death & Dismemberment – $16,000
No dependent Coverage - Retired Employees - $ 2,000
No dependent Coverage
- Benefits for employees and dependents begin after 1 year of service
- Annual deductible of $50 individual, $100 family
- 100 percent emergency visits and preventive services
- 75 percent of basic dental care
- 50 percent of prosthetic services
- Benefits for employees and dependents begin after 1 year of service
- Exam each year
- Glasses or contacts – see plan for allowance every 24 months
- Instead of Social Security Tax.
- Provides increased retirement benefits over Social Security after 60 months of railroad industry service.
- 11.55 percent withheld from each paycheck, compared to 7.65 percent for Social Security.
- 1.45 percent for all taxable earnings, plus 6.2 percent up to $106,800, plus 3.9 percent up to $79,200 for 2009.
- Company pays an additional 19.75 percent, compared to 7.65 percent for Social Security.
- For more information please visit www.rrb.gov.
- BNSF Railway provides educational assistance to employees who pursue job-related degree programs and job-related individual courses at accredited educational institutions.
- Participants interested in pursuing a degree will need to complete a Degree Plan form and submit to their supervisor for executive approval as outlined below:
- AVP approval is required for undergraduate courses
- VP approval is required for graduate courses
- Executive Team approval is required for doctorate work
- Once the Degree Plan has been approved an Application for BNSF Tuition Refund must be submitted to their supervisor for approval prior to each semester/term
- A grade of C or higher is required for reimbursement
- Participants are asked to continue employment with BNSF for a period of time following reimbursement of their coursework, or they may be subject to repayment conditions, as outlined in the BNSF Tuition Refund Policy
Vacation: Determined by respective labor agreement.
Holidays: Usually 10 per year.
