Grass-Roots Campaign to
Promote Benefits of APWU Health Plan
Program Will Be Launched With Nov. 4 Teleconference

APWU Web News Article #12-04, Oct. 4, 2004

APWU President William Burrus has announced a grass-roots effort to publicize the benefits of the APWU Health Plan, with 30 APWU locals expected to enroll soon in a pilot program based on “member-to-member” promotion.

“We’ve never really made the effort to have members talking to members about the value of these outstanding options,” Burrus said of the new program. “Of the 240,000 union members and the 300,000 active APWU-represented employees, only 16,000 belong to the APWU Health Plan. Yet considering every relevant factor for choosing health coverage, the APWU plan is competitive with or superior to the other insurance programs in which our members enroll.”

“There is simply no justification for the low participation rate,” Burrus wrote in a letter to 30 local presidents. “The fact is that our members have not been informed of the low premiums and the excellent benefits of the APWU Health Plan.”

Burrus asked the APWU leaders to select an outstanding organizer to help get the campaign off to a solid start. “I ask that you designate a dynamic member of your local who has the ability to inform other members about the great benefits and competitive premiums that APWU offers,” Burrus wrote.

The designated member will distribute information, make personal contact with potential health plan enrollees, respond to inquiries, and enroll new members in the plan.

“We must increase the number of plan participants so that we can continue to offer this valuable benefit,” Burrus said. “Our success in increasing COPA contributions was achieved because committed local and state presidents made it happen.”  

“Once again, I need your commitment,” Burrus added. “Please provide my office with the name of the very best organizer in your local.”  

For its part, APWU Health Plan staff will provide the names of APWU members who are not in the plan, along with brochures and other material explaining health plan benefits and premiums.

After the designated organizers have been selected, a teleconference will take place Nov. 4 to officially launch the campaign. The 2004 FEHB program Open Season is from Nov. 8 through Dec. 13.

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