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Case Study

IBEW Local 38 takes new approach to improve workers' health

Discover how IBEW Local 38 partnered with Marathon Health to expand access to care, drive meaningful engagement, and reduce healthcare costs across the plan.
Read the case study

Labor organizations face a persistent challenge: Members who are eligible for health benefits often delay or avoid care. When workers skip annual checkups and preventive screenings, small health issues can become costly chronic conditions, and health plan costs climb. For unions like IBEW Local 38, the question is not whether to offer better benefits, but how to encourage members to use them.

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ABOUT IBEW LOCAL 38

A labor union committed to better health for its members

Who they are

IBEW Local 38 is a labor union representing electricians and their families. With 5,800 members, the organization carries a deep responsibility for the health and wellbeing of a workforce defined by physically demanding work.

A workforce with complex health needs

Around one-third of IBEW Local 38 members live with high-risk conditions or chronic illnesses that require ongoing medical attention. IBEW Local 38 needed a solution that would earn trust and drive real engagement.

THE CHALLENGE

Getting members to engage with the care they need

Even with covered benefits in place, IBEW Local 38 struggled to motivate members to take advantage of preventive care.

  • About one-third of members have high-risk or chronic conditions

  • Members consistently deferred annual checkups and screenings

  • Demands of electrical work elevated musculoskeletal injury risk

"I have a fiduciary responsibility as a trustee to make sure these healthcare plans solve problems," says Dennis Meaney, business manager and financial secretary for IBEW Local 38. "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."

THE MARATHON HEALTH SOLUTION

Two dedicated health centers built around what members actually need

Dedicated health centers for members and their families

Marathon Health built two health centers for IBEW Local 38 members and their families. They offer free medications, health coaching, and specialist referrals in person and virtually.

Physical therapy and behavioral health services

Marathon Health met high member demand with two dedicated physical therapists. In-house behavioral health services also eliminated external referrals, making it easier for members to get care.

Incentives that turn first-time visitors into regular patients

Marathon Health’s incentive program encouraged members to use their new benefits. It promoted healthy choices and rewarded participation in annual physicals, turning first-time visitors into regulars.

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MEMBER SATISFACTION
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patient satisfaction among IBEW Local 38 members engaging with services

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of members with chronic conditions actively engage with Marathon Health services

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physical therapists deployed to meet the high demand

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of patients showed improvements across key biometric risk factors

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members and their families gained access to dedicated onsite health center services

  • Many of these young people don't have doctors, because they don't go. This is a long-term plan, and we hope they'll make Marathon their clinic and won't need to look for a doctor beyond the center.

    DENNIS MEANEY
    Business Manager and Financial Secretary, IBEW Local 38
GET THE CASE STUDY

See how better access drives better member health

IBEW Local 38's story shows what's possible when a labor organization commits to meeting its members where they are. From dedicated health centers to specialized physical therapy and behavioral health services, this case study details the strategies, services, and outcomes that transformed member engagement—and the health plan behind it. Download the full case study to see the results.
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