IBEW Local 38 Case Study

The Challenge

For years, Dennis Meaney watched his union members’ health decline while health plan costs continued to climb. He witnessed the negative trend firsthand in his role as business manager and financial secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 38 (IBEW Local 38), which represents electrical contractors across the Cleveland area.

Even with covered health benefits, he says, members put off getting their annual physicals and bypassed routine screenings. Moreover, almost a third of IBEW Local 38 workers identify as high-risk or have a chronic condition requiring ongoing medical care.

“I have a fiduciary responsibility as a trustee to make sure these [healthcare] plans solve problems,” Meaney says. “We couldn’t keep throwing money at it, taking more money out of our paychecks to pay for healthcare. We had to take a different approach.”

Our Solution

Meaney and other union officers worked with Marathon Health to launch two dedicated health centers for their union contractors and covered family members. Through the Marathon Health partnership, union members and their families gained access to a suite of in-person and virtual wellness services, including free medications, biometric screenings, health coaching, referral guidance for specialty care, and more.