02/06/2023    Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM

Time to Unionize (Gregory T. Amarantos, DPM)

Let me respond to Dr. Amarantos, and let you decide
if it's worth it to continue to be a member of
Guild 45 of Lower Extremity Surgeons, OPEIU, AFL-
CIO. We complain our profession is not respected by
other specialists, hospitals, or insurance
companies. We do get respect from OPEIU-AFL/CIO.
They even lobby for our profession. Here are some
of the benefits

HEALTHCARE BENEFITS:

"As you know, we, through an agreement between the
OPEIU and the United Steel workers Health and
Welfare Fund, have offered members and their
families fully insured health policies written
through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. These
policies are “rich” in design. The Summary Plan
Descriptions of the three levels of plan choices
are contained on your IPMA Web Pages.

The plan premiums are underwritten for the
individual Guild States and reflect a savings to
market plans available in Illinois. The key in
making your comparison is to be sure the benefits
are alike in both plans. Our plan offers
individual coverage, family coverage, and spousal
coverage at 100/80, 90/70 and 80/60.

Currently the program insures well over one hundred
members and families.

The consistent request that we have had is for
staff coverage. Due to the labor laws, employers
and employees cannot be in the same local union, so
we have not been successful in opening the USW plan
to staff. We have, however, determined that a fully
insured QSERA plan is available to our members’
offices.

The QSEHRA places your staff on fully insured
programs through the state exchange.
This is cost-effective for younger employees, but
it increases as the age of the employee increases
On average our test offices have saved on overall
costs. The employee enrolls in the policy of choice
and the employer then reimburses the employee up to
the benefit level that the employer offers

All QSEHRA reimbursements are free of payroll taxes
for the organization and its employees.
Reimbursements can be free of income tax for
employees with health insurance that provides
minimum essential coverage (MEC). These tax-free
reimbursements mean employees don’t need to report
their QSEHRA as income at the end of the year

These plans are administered through a company that
the Guild has worked with in setting up our test
offices.

These plans are available now.

OPEIU BENEFITS:

Two towing/service calls per year for members and
family living in the same household, valued up to
$100 each. OPEIU’s 24-hour Sign and Drive Plan
includes: Free hook up and tow up to 15 miles.
Additional fee will apply for tows from military
bases, deserted parking lots and beaches
24-hour emergency roadside assistance
24-hour emergency battery service
24-hour emergency lockout service
24-hour delivery of supplies
24-hour emergency tire service
Travel discounts and much more

Identity Protection

$7,000 Death Benefit

$2,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit

OPEIU Student Debt Reduction Program

OPEIU Union Plus© Programs

UNION PLUS BENEFITS:

Please see the accompanying Union Plus sheet which
gives contact information on all Union Plus
benefits in the following categories:

MONEY
HOME & AUTO
Credit Card
Auto Buying
Personal Loan
Mortgage Program
Legal Program
Real Estate Rewards
Money and Credit Solutions
Moving Discounts
Debt Settlement
Hertz Vans & Trucks

Budget Truck Rental

SHOPPING & DISCOUNTS
AT&T Discounts
Cash Back Shopping
Flowers & Gifts
Movie Tickets
Restaurants
Concerts and Events

ACTIVITY:

The Guild works with the members of Blue Cross Blue
Shield Labor office in contacting Blue Cross Blue
Shield companies with which we have any questions
or member problems. This has been an effective way
to bring attention to our member problems.

The Guild sits on the APMA Legislative Committee
and works at the direction of APMA in contacting
labor friendly legislators and leaders.

We secure AFL CIO support letters for our
legislative activities and deliver these to either
APMA or the Leadership to which the legislation is
subject.

OPEIU has made PAC contributions from its PAC for
the benefit of our Guild although few Guild members
make contributions to the OPEIU PAC
We are working with APMA in seeking a hearing on
the Title XIX bill (HELLPP Act)

Guild members sit on four state AFL CIO State
Federation Boards which allows us to “be at the
table” in medical issues that come before Labor.

Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL

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