UTU members to get healthcare choice

CLEVELAND - The United Transportation Union and the National Carriers' Conference Committee are expanding healthcare choices for 43,000 UTU-represented employees working on certain Class I railroads, beginning April 1, 1999.

UTU members who work for six major Class I railroads - Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Kansas City Southern and Conrail - will be able to choose Blue Cross Blue Shield as their health insurance provider.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) is not part of the expanded healthcare choice program with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Only locomotive engineers working under UTU agreements will have this option. Unfortunately, engineers working under BLE agreements will not have this option.

Currently, United HealthCare and Aetna provide healthcare insurance for all union workers, including UTU members, under the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan.

"Our members have been saying that they want greater choice in their healthcare options and that is what they are getting," said Charles L. Little, UTU International president. "At a time when American healthcare consumers' choices of doctors and hospitals are being increasingly restricted, this union is giving its members more choice and freedom to control their personal medical decision making."

The coverage will start April 1, 1999, instead of the previously announced January 1, 1999, in order to ensure sufficient time for open enrollment and a smooth transition.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will provide both traditional comprehensive and managed healthcare insurance options. For UTU members who select Blue Cross coverage, the Michigan Plan will also provide all administrative services.

UTU members who select Blue Cross Blue Shield will also receive mental health and substance abuse services from Magellan Behavioral Health, the nation's largest managed behavioral healthcare company, serving 61 million persons in the United States and Canada.

In addition, Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Company will provide life insurance coverage.

Merck/Medco will continue to administer the prescription drug benefit.

UTU members will have the ability beginning April 1, 1999, to choose Blue Cross Blue Shield, United HealthCare or Aetna as their Managed Medical Care Program (MMCP) provider, depending on availability in different geographic areas. ValueOptions will continue to offer mental health and substance abuse services for UTU members who choose to continue with United HealthCare or Aetna. In those areas where UTU-represented employees do not have the option of selecting the MMCP benefit, the Comprehensive Health Care Benefit will be administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Information on Blue Cross Blue Shield enrollment will be made available to UTU members in the future. The new Blue Cross Blue Shield healthcare option mirrors the current national health and welfare plan.

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