Uaw Retiree Medical Benefits Trust

The UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, a voluntary employee beneficiary association, is dedicated to administering funds for post-retirement medical benefits. Its primary mission is to serve as a reliable source for retiree healthcare coverage for its members. The Trust aims to provide every member with health benefits and the opportunity to attain their best quality of life.

Governed by an 11-person committee, the Trust comprises six independent members and five members appointed by the UAW. Additional subcommittees exist for plan administration, investment, and audit. All committee members and trust staff strictly adhere to a code of ethics. The Trust's purpose is to provide healthcare coverage for its retirees.

Separate trust accounts are maintained for each auto plan (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) from which benefits are paid. Since its launch in 2010, the Trust has grown to become the largest non-governmental purchaser of retiree healthcare in the United States, providing healthcare benefits to over 580,000 people in 2022. The Trust continues to serve its mission by reviewing the benefit design each year and making necessary adjustments.

In 2022, the Trust paid approximately $4.0 billion in healthcare benefits for its retirees and dependents, including filling over 14.9 million prescriptions for members during the plan year. The Trust has made significant strides in finding ways to control costs while improving healthcare benefits. For 2022, members were introduced to a new over-the-counter benefit.

The Trust membership is geographically and demographically diverse. The Trust maintains robust communication with its membership to operate in a transparent fashion. It keeps beneficiaries informed on the Trust activities and the benefits provided by the Trust. The Trust and carriers sent a series of communications to members regarding 2022 and 2023 enrollment and plan offerings. Retiree Health Care Connect, the call center for Trust members, handled nearly 310,000 calls from members and union benefit representatives in 2022. A series of printed mailings were distributed by the Trust to nearly 400,000 contract-holder participants in 2022, updating them on benefits provided by the Trust and the Trust's financial position. Trust Partners communicated directly with members, on behalf of the Trust, regarding benefits, prevention, chronic conditions, and disease management where appropriate. Members with specific gaps in care were sent communications encouraging them to take preventive measures to manage their condition(s), improve their health status, and engage with their primary care physician. The Trust leverages various communication formats, including its branded website and videos, to complement mailings. The Member Experience Team was able to travel to in-person retiree meetings in the fall of 2022 after two years of virtual meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team attended a total of 182 retiree meetings and held virtual sessions via Zoom and dial-in calls to inform members of 2023 annual benefit changes and other information. The team hosted approximately 30 sessions listened to by nearly 10,000 members.