(This article first appeared in the January-February 2017 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

In October, the APWU Health Plan hosted our yearly Health Plan Seminar in Las Vegas, NV. The education of local and state leaders on health plan terminology, coverages and changes in our plans during an intense two-day training was a great success. I want to thank the APWU Health Plan staff for all the hard work necessary for the education of our Health Plan Representatives (HPRs), especially the care they took instructing the new HPRs enrolled in the beginner tract.

Separating the curriculum into a beginner and advanced tract was very well received. It allowed the instructors to focus their talents more narrowly on the subjects at hand. With this being the first year of the two-tract education model, we expect an even better conference next year as we navigate a course of continual improvement.

During this year’s Open Season these trained HPRs, along with our professional Health Plan staff, participated in federal and postal health plan fairs nationwide as we worked to expand the APWU family and the great service we provide our members. Yes, federal and non-APWU represented postal workers who choose our health plans choose to become associate members of the APWU and pay the dues commensurate to that representation.

Common Questions

While providing training at the fall training seminar in Ocala, FL, a couple of interesting questions arose concerning our health care plans and I would like to share the answers with you.

What about a couple who have been domestic partners for over 25 years but are not married? How do they cover their partner with health insurance?

The simple answer of “get married” was known by many, but it is not the only answer. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will accept certain legal documents besides a marriage certificate issued by a court. So if a community, county or state recognizes domestic partnerships and issues a document certifying as such, it may be enough for our members to cover their loved ones with Self Plus One or family health insurance. You can contact OPM on the specifics of this rule.

Do APWU Health Plans have a lifetime “cap” on coverage? In particular, is there some dollar amount that once reached, the APWU would stop paying benefits?

I am glad to say, no. The APWU Health Plans have no maximum lifetime benefit after which we stop paying for medical care of our members and their families.

When you need your health insurance, having a health plan you are part owner of and that you elect the director is the difference between being a number and being your insurance company’s number one priority. All of us at the APWU Health Plan look forward to serving you in 2017.

Thank You

The deadline for this article is just days before national officers are installed for the term expiring in 2019. I would be remiss if I did not thank all of you for participating in the democratic process that elects our national officers.

I am deeply humbled and honored to have been elected as your Health Plan Director. I will continue to be focused on providing our members with comprehensive health care at the most affordable price.

I would also like to thank all of the candidates that participated in this year’s election. We share the same goal of improving our union for the betterment of the membership, and now it is time for us all to unite in that goal.