Coverage for You and Yours
Coverage for You

• If you’re a regular full-time or part-time, temporary or term Cingular employee, we’ve got you covered as of your date of hire for most benefit plans.
• You get full credit for your eligible past recognized service with companies associated with the joint venture.

Coverage for Your Spouse
Your spouse qualifies as a dependent for the applicable plans, regardless of coverage available elsewhere.

Coverage for Your Registered Domestic Partner

• A Registered Domestic Partner is someone of the same or opposite sex, with whom you share your life.
• Your Registered Domestic Partner qualifies as a dependent for all plans, regardless of coverage available elsewhere. Registered Domestic Partners do not qualify for the Dependent Care Spending Account and the Healthcare Spending Account.
• For your Registered Domestic Partner to qualify as a dependent, you and your Registered Domestic Partner must be at least 18 years of age and not related by blood.
• Tax consequences will apply to Domestic Partnership benefits due to imputed income.
• Registration is required through a city and/or state registry. More information about these registries will be provided soon.

Coverage for Your Children
Your natural children, legally adopted children, stepchildren, and children of your Registered Domestic Partner are also eligible for coverage if they are:

• Under age 19;
• Under age 23 and are full-time students; or
• Disabled before age 19 or while covered under student status and are dependent on you for support.

Children of your Registered Domestic Partner must qualify as dependents under IRS rules to be considered a dependent for either a Healthcare or Dependent Care Spending Account.

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What If I’m Part-Time?
Your Coverage as a Part-Time Employee
When you move to Cingular, if you work less than a full-time work schedule (determined by your market) each week, you’ll be considered a part-time employee.

If you work at least 30 hours but less than your market's full-time schedule, Cingular will pay 75% of the cost of benefits requiring a premium contribution and you’ll be responsible for 25% of the premium cost.

If you work 20 to 29 hours a week, Cingular will pay 50% of the cost of benefits requiring a premium contribution and you’ll be responsible for 50% of the premium cost.

If you work fewer than 20 hours a week, you will be responsible for 100% of the benefits premium cost.

Your Time-Off benefits and your Tuition Aid benefits will be prorated based on the number of hours you are scheduled to work, compared to a full-time schedule.

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What If I Retire From Cingular?
Most employees will receive the following retiree healthcare coverage. However, depending on your age and service, you may be eligible for transition benefits described in the Retiree Healthcare Transition Coverage Section.

Your Healthcare Coverage as a Future Retiree
If you retire with at least 10 years of service and are age 55 or older, you and your dependents will have access to the same medical plans as active employees for as long as the benefit is offered by Cingular.

• As a retiree you are responsible for paying the entire cost of your monthly premium.
• You may elect any of the active medical plans available in your area.
• You may not elect a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) past the age of 65.

Retiree Healthcare Transition Coverage
If you meet the age and service requirements for one of the following three groups you’re eligible for the retiree healthcare benefits described for that group.

Group 1—Currently Eligible or Eligible on or before December 31, 2001

• This group consists of employees who meet their parent company’s age and service eligibility requirements for retiree health and welfare benefits on or before December 31, 2001.
• Retiring employees and their covered dependents are eligible for the health and welfare benefits provided under their parent company’s program.
• Retiree monthly contributions for the applicable coverages are determined annually by the parent company.

Group 2—Eligible Within Five Years

• This group consists of employees who on or before December 31, 2001 are within five years of meeting their parent company’s age and service eligibility requirements for retiree health and welfare benefits.
• Benefits will be provided under a Cingular program.
• Cingular will pay for a portion of the monthly medical and dental premiums for the retiree and covered dependents. The subsidy will be based on the parent company you came from when you transitioned to Cingular (SBC or BellSouth). Basic life insurance is provided at no cost.
• Medical Plus, long-term care, and supplemental life insurance coverages are available. Retirees are responsible for the total cost.
• Benefit coverages will be available for as long as Cingular offers the benefit coverage.

Group 3—Eligible Based on Meeting 50-Point Rule

• This group consists of employees who on or before December 31, 2001 have at least five years of service and combined service and age that equals or exceeds 50.
• Retiree medical benefits will be provided under a Cingular program.
• Retiring employees and their covered dependents will only be eligible for medical and Medical Plus benefits.
• Cingular will provide a monthly subsidy of $10 per year of Cingular recognized service for the retiree and an additional $10 monthly subsidy for a spouse or Registered Domestic Partner.
• After age 65, you have access to coverage, but you are responsible for the total monthy premium.

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