Trust provides cost-effective health benefits

By CHRIS DUGOVICH

Chris Dugovich
Council 2 President/Executive Director

The Washington State Council of County and City Employees, AFSCME, AFL-CIO offers one of the most cost-effective services to its members, but it seems to be a well-hidden fact. The State Council operates a non-profit insurance Trust through the trusteeship of its three elected officers —Vice-President Roy Brannam, Secretary-Treasurer Judy Johnson, and I. The Trust currently offers, on a group basis, nine dental plans, two vision plans, two long-term disability plans and five levels of term life insurance.

The Trust, originally created in the late sixties, was, and still is, intended to provide the best benefits to members on a bargaining unit basis at the lowest possible cost. Naturally, more participants in the plan will reduce the cost—giving all participants the greatest benefit for their dollars.

Our nine different dental plans offer benefit options to match your employer’s ability to pay. Unlike many dental plans, our payments per individual procedure are a set amount with frequent upgrades. This builds in the luxury of holding down costs and greatly curtails premium increases. In this age of spiraling medical plan increases it’s nice to know your dental insurance cost will remain as constant as possible.

The Trust also offers two very competitive vision programs.

Long-term disability insurance is one benefit that really has not come to the forefront yet, although it’s extremely important. Generally, this coverage kicks in for an illness or injury that keeps you from the ability to work. It’s salary insurance!

Although the State’s Labor and Industries Insurance offers you coverage for an on-the-job injury, the Trust’s disability insurance augments this coverage and will pay in many instances when the state plan will not. Clearly, the most important aspect of this coverage would cover you for either an illness or an off-the-job injury. The Trust offers two different plans. Plan I requires a 90-day waiting period after the injury or illness and Plan II requires a 180-day waiting period.

The programs are extremely competitively priced at $21.65 per member per month (90-day) and $18.65 per member per month (180-day).

The Trust’s newest program is group term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. In reviewing our collective bargaining agreements across the state, we noticed many employers offer very little in regard to life insurance. We offer five levels of coverage: $10,000, $25,000, $40,000, $50,000 and $100,000. The premium is competitive at the following rates per member per month: $3.70 for $10,000, $9.25 for 25,000, $14.80 for $40,000, $18.50 for $50,000 and $37.00 for $100,000. Additionally, for 38 cents a dependent, life schedule can be added.

Your Local can participate in two ways. The first is to make your choice of the coverages as a proposal during your next set of contract negotiations and gain the agreement of the employer to pay the premium. Additionally, by a simple majority vote of your Local membership you can participate in the plan. Keep in mind that all the members of your local must participate whether or not they voted for the plan, and you will need to gain your employer’s agreement to deduct the premium from your pay.

If your Local is interested in pursuing these coverages or you need additional information, ask your Staff Representative. They are all worthwhile programs meant solely to benefit the participants.