Robert's wife, Patricia, suffers from lupus erythematosus and myasthenia gravis.*fn1 As of August 1990, Robert had been a member of the Bay Area Painters and Tapers Union ("the Union") for nine years, and had been employed by several different union employers during that time. One of the benefits of union membership was that Robert and his wife were provided medical coverage under the Bay Area Painters and Tapers Health Fund.