ABOUT YOUR FUND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Frank J. Runey

Secretary Treasurer

Trustee -  UFCW National Health & Welfare Fund

 

Your Healthcare benefits are managed by the UFCW National Fund. The provider network is Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Through this network you can access any participating Blue Cross Blue Shield provider in theUnited States.  As a member of the UFCW Health and Welfare Fund you have tremendous benefits at a tremendous price. You can help maintain these benefits by using your benefits wisely.

 

For example:

• Please don’t use the Emergency Room of the hospital for regular Doctor’s visits.

 

• Analyze your bills and call the FUND if you find something that doesn’t seem correct.

 

• If you receive a bill from a provider that hasn’t been paid, call the FUND, sometimes they haven’t received the bill because the doctor’s office sent it to the wrong address.  

 

• Make sure you carry your I.D. card when you have a health-related appointment and make sure the billing clerk understands where to send the bill. This will avoid claims being filled incorrectly with another UFCW Fund or third party administrator.

• If you or your dependent have bills relating to an accident, tell us about it as soon as you know that you will incur bills as a result. The more information you supply, the less your claims will be delayed.

 

• Fill out our annual Coordination of Benefits form completely. If someone works but does not have insurance, you must still give us the name and address of the company so that the Fund can verify the information. If the form is not complete, the claim can’t be paid.

 

• Read your Explanation of Benefits (EOB).  If there is something in there that isn’t accurate please contact a claim representative at the Fund office - 1-888-773-8329.

 

• Whenever you contact the Fund office, find out who you are talking to, document their name and the time and date of your call.  That way in the event of a problem you will have the necessary information that will rectify the problem much quicker.

 

• Become familiar with the Summary Plan Description (SPD).

 

• Generic drugs not only cost you less but they cost considerably less for the UFCW National Health & Welfare Fund.  That saves us all in the long run.  By controlling costs we can maintain a high level of benefits.

 

• If you are on Maintenance Prescription, try and purchase a 90 day supply at an Osco (Shaw’s pharmacy) because it will save you money.

 

• Be diligent and follow your doctor’s instructions and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

Please understand that the fund is asking these questions to protect all of you against sharp rises in premiums which could be the result of people receiving the benefits of insurance to which they are not entitled. It is not our intention to make life difficult for you but to insure that your co-pay does not go through the roof.

 

The problems related with the ever increasing costs of health care seem to be everywhere – newspapers, radio, television, and in the political arena.  Unfortunately, if our elected officials don’t take some bold action, the problems plaguing health care will only get worse not better. 

 

We have been insuring union members for over 46 years and our premiums are still the best in sight. We aim to keep them that way and we can only do so with your cooperation.

 

Doing the things within our control will go a long way in keeping the costs lower for the Fund and more importantly save you money in the long run.  You have the commitment from the leadership of this union that we will continue to work hard in all areas to help bring the costs and accessibility of healthcare within reason.  That result will benefit everyone in the future.

 

If you have any questions please contact Frank Runey at 1-800-535-2752.

Member Fund Information Guide

• Information on Doctors and Medical Facilities log onto the website of the fund’s provider “Blue Cross Blue Shield” -  www.horizonblue.com/nationalaccounts - select “Our Products”  - select  “Blue Card PPO” – then select “Provider Directory” and follow the instructions.
• To contact the UFCW National Fund Office’s membership service call 1-888-773-8329.
• To access the UFCW National Health and Welfare Fund on-line, log on to www.ufcwnationalfund.org -  click the "bullseye" -  "make all pieces fit together" – click “Plan Description” – click “Select Company” – then select  Shaw’s from the list of companies.
• For Information on Pharmacies and Pharmaceuticals go to: www.empirxhealth.com

Attention Local 791 Members

 

There has been some confusion regarding our PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager.)  Local 791’s PBMhas not changed, it is still Empirix. 

 

Albertson’s has changed the PBM for non-union employees.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union

Local 791

 

55 Norfolk Avenue

South Easton, MA 02375

 

774-568-0791

Proudly serving workers in Massachusetts,

Rhode Island and Maine since 1947

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