Introduction

The UFCW Local 1776 and Participating Employers Health and Welfare Fund was created to provide cost effective, comprehensive benefits to certain members of UFCW Local 1776 (and its predecessors) who are employed by employers required to contribute to the Fund. The following introduction will acquaint you with the Fund and its operations.

What Is a Health and Welfare Fund?

For many years, employers and the unions representing their employees have maintained health and welfare funds as a way to provide health care benefits to their employees/members in a way that provides maximum flexibility, responsiveness, and cost control. The more technical name for a health and welfare fund is a jointly managed multi-employer Taft Hartley trust fund. Jointly managed means that the Fund is administered and run by representatives of both the contributing employers and the union(s); multi-employer means that more than one employer contributes into the Fund; and Taft Hartley is the federal labor law that has prompted the creation of these Funds.

Who Runs the UFCW Local 1776 and Participating Employers Health and Welfare Fund?

The UFCW Local 1776 and Participating Employers Health and Welfare Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees. Half of the Trustees are appointed by the Union and half are appointed by the Contributing Employers. Together, the Trustees must act in the best interest of you, the participant, and your beneficiaries. These Trustees meet periodically to review the operations of the Fund. The Board is responsible for setting policy and making the important decisions about how the Fund will operate and about the level of benefits you will receive. The Trustees are the decision makers who are ultimately responsible for the Fund. Any changes to benefits and most claim appeal decisions are determined by the Trustees.

The Trustees hire professionals to help them run the Fund. These professionals include a third-party administrator and staff who have the responsibility to collect the contributions from the employers, maintain records, pay claims, and provide the overall day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Trustees also contract with attorneys to consult on legal matters, an auditor to review the financial statements, an actuary to do cost projections, and an investment advisor to provide guidance on investment decisions.

Who Decides What Benefits I'm Entitled To ?

The benefit package that each participant is entitled to receive under the Fund is determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the Union and the participants Contributing Employer. Each Contributing Employer has a different collective bargaining agreement with the Union; and each collective bargaining agreement may provide different benefit packages for employees of that Contributing Employer. Therefore, you may be entitled to different benefits than someone who works for another Contributing Employer, or even someone who works in your store or office. You should refer to the letter enclosed with this booklet as well as your collective bargaining agreement to determine the benefit package to which you are entitled under the Fund.

Who Pays For My Benefits?

Your employer makes monthly contributions to the Fund on your behalf to pay for your benefits.  All of the employers that currently contribute to the Fund are listed in the above box. As with your benefit package, the amount of the contributions is established in the collective bargaining agreement.

Whom Do I Call If I Have Any Questions or Problems With My Benefits?

The Board of Trustees of the UFCW Local 1776 and Participating Employers Health and Welfare Fund has hired a third-party administrator, Healthcare Strategies, Inc., to provide general administrative services for the Fund. Healthcare Strategies, Inc. is responsible for operating the Fund on a day-to-day basis pursuant to the Board's direction. This booklet refers to Healthcare Strategies, Inc. as the Fund Administrator. The address of Healthcare Strategies, Inc. is the same as the Fund office:

3031 B Walton Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
www.ufcw1776benefitfunds.org

Healthcare Strategies, Inc. employs a staff of approximately 30 people to assist you with any problems or questions you may have about your benefits. You can reach the Fund office by calling (610) 941-9400 or 1-800-458-8618. The Fund office staff is divided into several departments, each specializing in a particular area. When calling the Fund office, listen for the appropriate prompt to direct you to one of the following departments ;
     Claims department -to request claim forms; or to check the status of a child care, dental, disability, education, physical well-being, or vision claim.
   Eligibility for Benefits - to check the benefits you are eligible to receive; to change an address or beneficiary.
   COBRA HIPPA Self Pay - to request COBRA, HIPPA or self pay application or if you have any questions concerning COBRA, HIPPA or self pay.