Union workers form the lifeblood of the country, doing everything from building key infrastructure, driving manufacturing, keeping the supply chain running, providing hospitality services, and much more.
The nature of union work often leads to injuries, such as lower back pain, sore knees and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Many union workers also face chronic health challenges like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Despite these risks, union members often avoid routine medical care, with some even distrusting the healthcare system altogether, says Jim Coyne, Business Manager at Plumbers UA Local 130 in Chicago.
“My guys don't go to the doctor unless they’ve got a bone sticking out of their body,” Coyne jokes.
Trade unions, just like employers, face myriad challenges when offering healthcare benefits. Employee health plan costs are expected to rise 5.8% on average in 2025—the third consecutive year of cost increases above 5%. The same study found over half of employers plan to make cuts to their health benefits to contain costs. To complicate matters further, more than 70% of U.S. adults report feeling failed by the healthcare system. Additionally, rising costs could force unions to cut other benefits that are loved by their membership.
These complexities lead to low member satisfaction and utilization with available benefits, poor health outcomes and ever-increasing costs.
In 2019, Coyne began searching for a better way to provide his union members and their families with not only advanced primary care, but also connect them with physical therapy, mental health services and chronic condition support.
“I want my members and their families to have a good life, and to do that, you’ve got to be healthy,” Coyne says.
He partnered with Marathon Health to initially open a dedicated health center for Local 130 members. Realizing other unions faced similar problems with access to affordable, high-quality care, Coyne joined forces with other unions and formed the Union Wellness Centers coalition.
As part of a Taft-Hartley health plan, the Union Wellness Centers coalition serves 40,000 members and includes eight health centers strategically placed close to where a majority of members work and live.
Advancing Primary Care for Unions
Through the Union Wellness Centers coalition, members and their families can access comprehensive primary care, physical therapy, medications, wellness programming, lab draws, immunizations and other services—all at no cost.
The Marathon Health model focuses on removing barriers and making care as convenient as possible. Health centers are built on or near the worksite and members can schedule same- and next-day appointments. Providers see only a set number of members per day, allowing them to spend more time with each member and build trust.
Health centers include an integrated care team of a range of physicians, nurse practitioners, behavioral health counselors, health coaches and physical therapists — depending on scope — who work in tandem to deliver a broad scope of preventive care services, naturally leading to better health outcomes and lower costs.
To date, unions and employers who provide advanced primary care through Marathon Health see on average $1,800 annual savings per employee and a 42% reduction in ER and inpatient costs. Sixty-seven percent of members improve at least one key biometric marker, such as A1c, blood pressure or cholesterol.
Coyne says the lack of copays, ease of scheduling and convenient access to care drive member engagement and increase member satisfaction.
“It's pretty amazing what we've accomplished and having a well-known partner like Marathon Health is going to make it that much of a better narrative in the future,” Coyne says. “I'm overwhelmed with joy at what we accomplished here.”
Learn more about how Marathon Health partners with unions to reduce costs, improve outcomes and delight members with advanced primary care services.
