Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1507954
2 I D G A M O N T H L Y To aid those members who may be experiencing financial hardship due to the ongoing WGA and SAG- AFTRA strikes, the DGA, DGA-Producers Pension & Health Plan and the Directors Guild Foundation have instituted a number of assistance programs and services. We hope that these programs will be of help during this difficult time. The MPTF has long been the entertainment industry's partner in providing financial hardship assistance along with programs that serve those who work in film and television. The DGA has been a long-standing contributor to the MPTF for decades to support their mission to serve our industry. This year the Guild has contributed more than $300,000 to support MPTF programs designed to assist our members and our industry. This is separate from and in addition to the programs and contributions offered by the DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plans and the Directors Guild Foundation listed here. Free Major Medical Coverage for Qualifying Participants In August, the Board of Trustees of the Directors Guild of America-Producer Pension and Health Plans unanimously approved a free major medical plan for participants and their eligible dependents who meet certain eligibility requirements. The Major Medical Plus Plan will offer network-only medical coverage with certain benefit exclusions and prescription drug benefits. The strike related Major Medical Plus Plan will be offered initially for three months from October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 (with consideration for future quarters of eligibility to be determined later should the work stoppages continue). It will provide the following benefits: Network coverage, including mental health and substance abuse benefits • Prescription drug coverage • Emergency Services (with specific guidance regarding non-network providers) • Qualified participants may include their eligible dependents for the duration of the Major Medical Plus Plan coverage. Participants who qualify for the Major Medical Plus Plan will receive a letter from the Health Plan with information on how to elect the coverage. Temporary Loans The DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plans Board has also voted to allow temporary loans from the Supplemental Pension Plan effective immediately through December 31, 2023. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 • Loan amounts will be permitted only from the vested portion of your account balance • The interest rate is set at prime plus 1% fixed for the life of the loan • Up to four outstanding loans will be allowed (not to exceed the lesser of 20% of your account balance or $40,000 in total) • The loan must be fully repaid, plus interest, within 5 years and can be repaid in full at any time without penalty • For married participants, spousal consent will be required for loans of $5,000 or more • Loans will not be permitted for participants whose Supplemental Plan accounts are subject to a qualified domestic relations order • Only general purpose loans are available under the Supplemental Pension Plan, no primary residence loans are permitted. For more information about these programs, visit the DGA-Producer Pension and Health Plan website at www.dgaplans.org or call 323-866-2200. Financial Assistance Options for If You Can Help, Please Contribute to the Directors Guild Foundation Members helping members. Today that spirit is more alive than ever as we've seen an outpouring of humanity from our DGA family asking how they can help. To help support your fellow members in financial crisis, please remember that giving to the Foundation is a way to make an immediate, personal impact. And it's now easier than ever – just a few clicks away with an easy to use credit card donation form right on the Foundation's website at www.dga.org/Foundation. For more information about the Directors Guild Foundation, visit the webpage on www.dga.org.