Health plan & appeal guide

General Dynamics Corporation

Reston, VA · Form 5500 filing, plan year 2024

For current employees

Both kinds General Dynamics Corporation Subsidiary Health & Welfare Plan · 45,502 people · judged with 15 other filings

This employer has both kinds of coverage. The company on your insurance card decides which rules apply to you.

How we know · medium confidence
  • This employer files 16 health plans for this group; we judged them together.

  1. General Dynamics Corporation Subsidiary Health & Welfare Plan · 45,502 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from SIMNSA, Cigna, Capital Health Plan, HMSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii), Kaiser Permanente is on file, covering about 8,448 people.
    • We ignored 3 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.
    • The insured options cover only about 19% of the 45,502 participants, so most people in this plan are in the self-funded part.

  2. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for Salaried Employees of General Dynamics Corporation, Electric Boat Division · 17,322 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from Cigna, HMSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii) is on file, covering about 3,839 people.
    • We ignored 3 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.
    • The insured options cover only about 22% of the 17,322 participants, so most people in this plan are in the self-funded part.

  3. Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Health & Welfare Benefits Plan · 15,723 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from Cigna, HMSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii) is on file, covering about 3,833 people.
    • We ignored 3 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.
    • The insured options cover only about 24% of the 15,723 participants, so most people in this plan are in the self-funded part.

  4. Bath Iron Works Corporation Health Care Program · 6,722 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from Cigna, HMSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii) is on file, covering about 3,833 people.
    • We ignored 4 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.

  5. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for Hourly Employees of General Dynamics Corporation, Electric Boat Division · 6,594 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from Cigna, HMSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii) is on file, covering about 3,839 people.
    • We ignored 3 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.

  6. General Dynamics Land Systems Health and Welfare Plan · 3,714 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from Cigna is on file, covering about 3,502 people.
    • We ignored 3 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.

  7. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for General Dynamics Land Systems Bargaining Employees · 2,000 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • The filing says benefits are paid from a trust the plan controls.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).
    • We ignored 1 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Blue Cross Blue Shield is paid to process this plan's claims (Schedule C), the usual setup when an employer pays claims itself.

  8. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for Salaried Non-bargaining Employees of General Dynamics Land Systems · 1,951 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • The filing says benefits are paid from a trust the plan controls.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).
    • We ignored 1 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.

  9. Jet Aviation Consolidated Welfare Plan · 1,574 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from Cigna, HMSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii) is on file, covering about 3,833 people.
    • We ignored 3 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.

  10. General Dynamics Land Systems Bargaining Health and Welfare Plan · 1,541 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).
    • We ignored 4 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.

  11. Freeman United Coal Mining Company Benefit Plan for Umwa Represented Employees · 308 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • The filing says benefits are paid from a trust the plan controls.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).
    • Anthem is paid to process this plan's claims (Schedule C), the usual setup when an employer pays claims itself.

  12. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for Hourly Employees of General Dynamics Corporation, Convair Division · 302 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).

  13. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for Salaried Corporate Personnel · 223 people · Both kinds

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • Medical insurance bought from Cigna is on file, covering about 3,502 people.
    • We ignored 3 low-cost supplemental policy(ies) such as accident or hospital cover; they don't decide how your medical claims are handled.
    • Medical insurance is on file, but the plan also pays benefits from the employer's own money, so some options are likely self-funded.

  14. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for Salaried Employees of General Dynamics Corporation, Air Defense Systems Div., Pomona Facility · 213 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).

  15. Group Insurance & Health Benefits for Hourly Employees of General Dynamics Corporation, Fort Worth Division · 205 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).

  16. Group Insurance and Health Benefits for Salaried Employees of General Dynamics Corporation, Material Service Corporation · 141 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).

Not counted

  • General Dynamics Corporation Reimbursement Accounts Plan (5,627 people): The plan name shows a spending account or employee assistance program, not medical coverage.
  • Csra 1992 Employee Welfare Benefits Plan (3,072 people): Its insurance contracts (Schedule A) are for life cover, none of it medical, and this employer files its medical plan separately.
  • Csra Welfare Benefits Plan for Certain Former Employees of Gte (266 people): Its insurance contracts (Schedule A) are for life cover, none of it medical, and this employer files its medical plan separately.

Double-check in 30 seconds: “Self-funded”, “administered by” or “ASO” on your card or plan summary means self-funded. “Insured by” or “underwritten by” means insured.

  1. Which company is on your insurance card?

    It’s printed on the front of the card. The filing shows which companies sell insured options here and which ones run the self-funded plan.

  2. Send your appeal here

    Unlocks after you answer the question above

  3. Know your deadlines

    Unlocks after you answer the question above

  4. What happens next

    Unlocks after you answer the question above

  5. Get free help

    Unlocks after you answer the question above

For retirees

Self-funded · federal rules General Dynamics Is&t Retiree Benefits Plan · 4,635 people · judged with 1 other filing

Your employer pays the claims from its own money, so federal law (ERISA) applies — not your state’s insurance rules.

How we know · high confidence
  • This employer files 2 health plans for this group; we judged them together.

  1. General Dynamics Is&t Retiree Benefits Plan · 4,635 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • The filing says benefits are paid from a trust the plan controls.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).
    • Kaiser Permanente is paid to process this plan's claims (Schedule C), the usual setup when an employer pays claims itself.

  2. Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Post Retirement Medical Care Plan · 509 people · Self-funded · federal rules

    • The filing says benefits are paid from the employer's general assets.
    • The filing says benefits are paid from a trust the plan controls.
    • No medical insurance contract is on file (Schedule A).
    • Anthem is paid to process this plan's claims (Schedule C), the usual setup when an employer pays claims itself.

Not counted

  • General Dynamics Corporation Retiree Health Reimbursement Account Plan (529 people): The plan name shows a spending account or employee assistance program, not medical coverage.

Double-check in 30 seconds: “Self-funded”, “administered by” or “ASO” on your card or plan summary means self-funded. “Insured by” or “underwritten by” means insured.

  1. Send your appeal here

    Self-funded plan (federal rules)

    Your employer pays claims from its own money. The insurance company on your card usually just processes claims. Federal law (ERISA) applies, so your state insurance department generally can't overrule the denial.

    Your appeal

    The claims administrator

    Kaiser PermanenteAnthem

    Send it to the appeal address on your denial letter or the back of your card. The filing names who processes claims for this plan.

    Prescription denied?

    The pharmacy benefit manager

    Express Scripts

    Drug denials usually come from the pharmacy benefit manager, and the appeal goes to the address on that denial.

    Plan documents, and a copy of your appeal

    The plan administrator

    GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION
    ATTN: PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
    11011 SUNSET HILLS RD
    RESTON, VA 20190-5311
    (703) 876-3000

    The plan administrator is legally responsible for the plan. Ask in writing for the Summary Plan Description and the plan document. The plan administrator must send them within 30 days, or a court can add a penalty of up to $110 a day.

  2. Know your deadlines

    • Internal appeal to the plan180 days from the denial
    • Independent external review4 months from the final denial

    Dates you enter stay on this device.

  3. What happens next

    1. Internal appeal to the plan (send it to the claims administrator on your card)

      File in writing within 180 days of the denial notice. Ask for your complete claim file and the criteria they used. They must give it to you free. They decide within 30 days for care you haven't had yet, 60 days for care you already received.

    2. Independent external review

      If they say no again, request external review within 4 months of that final denial. The plan must send it to an independent review organization it contracts with. Some states let self-funded plans use the state's program instead. Your denial letter has to tell you where to send it. A reviewer outside the plan decides, usually within 45 days, and the plan must follow the decision.

    3. Urgent? Ask for an expedited review

      If waiting could seriously harm your health, say so in writing. The plan must decide within 72 hours, and you can ask for expedited external review at the same time.

    4. If the plan stalls or ignores the rules

      Call the Department of Labor's benefits advisors. They enforce these rules for employer plans and can contact the plan for you, free. After the appeals are finished, a lawyer can sue under ERISA if the denial was wrong.

  4. Get free help

    External review covers denials based on medical judgment ("not medically necessary", "experimental"), cancelled coverage, and surprise-billing disputes. A flat plan exclusion usually isn't eligible, but you can still file the internal appeal.

    If your plan documents say the plan is "grandfathered" (unchanged since March 2010), the external-review rules may not apply.

Coming next

Get help writing the appeal letter

We’re building a tool that drafts your appeal from the denial letter and keeps track of every deadline. Leave your email and we’ll send one note when it’s ready.