Operating Engineer - Summer 2013

Healthcare
IUOE Health & Welfare Coverage: A Benefit You
and Your Family Can Count On
IUOE health plan trustees, staff personnel and
advisors gathered in Chicago on July 15th to deliberate on
the ramifications of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the
continued delivery of health benefits to a half a million IUOE
members and their families. The 140 meeting attendees
heard extensive presentations from panels of health fund
professionals and local union business managers on the ACA’s
impact on member coverage, plan benefits, plan finances
and collective bargaining. Attendees also participated in
small group exercises to discuss to explore further the effects
of ACA, specifically on IUOE coverage.
The timing of this meeting was critical as key features of
the ACA are set to begin in 2014. Members and their families
will be need to make informed decisions on their health
coverage options and will be seeking guidance on these
options from their local union and health plan leaders.
The meeting’s “bottom line” was that IUOE members
should continue to receive their benefits from their health &
welfare funds or employer coverage, if not in an IUOE fund
but receive health coverage through your job.
Beginning on October 1, 2013, Americans will be able to
enroll in individual health plans through state and federal
health exchanges for health coverage beginning on January
1, 2014. The exchanges are being designed to provide
transparency in the benefits and premiums for the various
health plans offered. The idea is that for the first time
individuals and families will be able to comparison shop
for health coverage, just as they can now shop for consumer
products such as televisions and refrigerators. Additionally,
depending on family income, subsidies will be available from
the federal government to help purchase health coverage.
In reality, this decision will not be difficult to make, a “no
brainer,” as some would say. It is an absolute fact that health
coverage delivered by IUOE health plans is clearly superior,
more extensive and more economical than any health plans
that will be available on the health exchanges.
The health exchanges are intended for individuals or
families that either don’t have coverage, have high cost
coverage that they purchased themselves, or have poor
and/or costly coverage provided through their employer.
Coverage purchased on the exchange will also vary in
cost depending on your age, health conditions, smoking
status and geographical region. IUOE health coverage is
group coverage and the purchasing power of the combined
participants lowers the cost to all regardless of age or health
status.
In the coming weeks, you can expect to be barraged with
advertisements in the mail, on the radio, television and
internet on health plans offered on the state or federal health
exchanges. Remember this: if you have IUOE health
& welfare coverage or employer coverage negotiated
through your union contract, keep it. High quality health
coverage is an important benefit that you get as an Operating
Engineer.
The main purpose in creating the
Exchanges was to provide affordable
medical coverage to individuals without
such coverage—not to replace existing
coverage.
Nonetheless, there is a perception among
some employers and individuals that state
Exchange-based coverage can be a viable
alternative to existing multiemployer
coverage. This perception is based upon
the belief that coverage will be more readily
available and more affordable with the help
of federal tax subsidies.
The slides appearing on pages 8 and 9 were
produced by Segal Consulting.
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international operating engineer