UFCW 655 launches in-store mentor to assure members understand, benefit from their health care plan

First in the U.S. for UFCW

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 655 President David Cook has announced a unique new service to help members navigate, understand and benefit from their extensive health and welfare plan.

The local has hired a health care benefit specialist – Tasha Curry – to visit with members in their stores to personally explain their health care benefits, answer questions and ensure the union’s members thoroughly understand the value of the benefits their union has negotiated for them so that they can use those benefits when they need too.

“Too often we know that members really don’t comprehend the depth of our health care plan’s coverage and what it means to them and their family,” Cook said.

“We are making this special effort to go into the stores to speak with our members face-to-face so that they understand the scope of their health care benefits for themselves and their families in order to promote a healthy lifestyle.”

Curry has spent most of her career as a community representative with more than 12 years of history working with non-profit groups and in the health insurance industry.

The effort is a first among UFCW locals in the United States. Local 655 has created a special brochure outlining the service for distribution to its members.