The Steelworkers Health and Welfare Fund provides cost-effective, quality benefit plan options for USW members, retirees and their families.
Today, our wide range of plans cover more than 58,700 USW members nationwide under approximately 385 agreements across numerous sectors of the union. By leveraging the USW’s purchasing power, we manage costs, maintain broad coverage and ensure fair and responsible plan administration.
our wide range of plans cover more than 58,700 USW members nationwide.
Maximizing Benefits and Service
Coverage includes medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance and disability benefits provided through contracts with major insurance carriers. We partnered with several of the nation’s most reputable insurers to provide benefit options that are not only competitively priced but offer our members excellent service.
The fund provides a dedicated eligibility and billing office as well as claims and customer service units that help to provide this exemplary care.
Rising medical care costs and other economic uncertainties call for innovative and constructive approaches to collective bargaining on health care and benefits issues.
To better meet the needs of USW members and families in an ever-changing benefit market, the fund continues to diversify its benefit offerings. We offer an expanded menu of preferred provider organization (PPO) and qualified high deductible health plan (QHDHP) options, along with health reimbursement account (HRA), health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) administration through the fund’s health insurance carrier.
Delivering Accessible Care
To offer members flexibility in when and how they access care, the fund’s fully-insured medical plans include access to the following programs:
- Teladoc, telemedicine services that provide 24/7 care for non-emergency general medicine, mental health and dermatology services.
- Virtual Physical Care, connecting members virtually to licensed physical therapists, guided exercises and ongoing education.
- Mental Well-Being, a program powered by Spring Health that provides access to mental health resources along with on-demand support, real-time scheduling, care plan visibility and check-in assessments.
- Diabetes Management, a personalized, at-home solution that helps members manage Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Members receive a free smart blood glucose meter, unlimited test strips, and virtual visit access to a care team of certified diabetes educators, nutritionists, pharmacists and board-certified endocrinologists.
- Baby Blueprints, a maternity education program for help with parent-to-be questions and over-the-phone support from nurse health coaches.
- Wellness Coaching, offering personalized plans, right over the phone, to help participants lose weight, quit smoking, become more active and more.
Expanding Our Reach
The fund’s staff continues to participate in district conferences and other union trainings to ensure that USW members and staff representatives understand the benefit programs and services available.
The fund serves as a useful resource during collective bargaining. By coming to the fund for benefit proposals, the USW can approach collective bargaining from a stronger position and simplify the bargaining process with respect to health and welfare benefits.
After a group joins the fund, the union and the employer are equal partners with respect to the operation of the benefit plans and access to information. The fund ensures that all plans are administered fairly and without bias.