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Case Study

Q&A with UA Local 98 business manager Gary Glaser

Explore how UA Local 98 partnered with Marathon Health to expand advanced primary care access for members, reducing barriers and delivering measurable outcomes.
Read the Q&A

Michigan ranks 43rd in health outcomes despite near-universal coverage. For labor organizations, insurance alone isn't enough. Provider shortages, long wait times, and high out-of-pocket costs steer members away from preventive care. This Q&A explores how advanced primary care is closing that gap by delivering personal, affordable care where members live and work.

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ABOUT UA LOCAL 98

A labor organization devoted to member health

Who they are

UA Local 98 is a Detroit-based plumbers union representing members across southeast Michigan. The organization is jointly committed to improving the health, financial security, and working lives of its members and their families.

What drove them here

Faced with rising healthcare costs and widespread access barriers, business manager Gary Glaser set out to restore something lost—a direct, relationship-based care model that puts members first and keeps costs manageable.

THE CHALLENGE

When coverage exists but access doesn't

UA Local 98 members had coverage, but this didn't guarantee care. Like many Michigan workers, they faced a system where timely appointments were rare, costs were high, and meaningful provider relationships were hard to maintain.

  • Members lacked a primary care physician for routine care

  • Four- to five-month waits made preventive visits difficult

  • High out-of-pocket costs caused members to skip care

Delaying care drives emergency room visits and costlier conditions over time. Recognizing these risks early, UA Local 98 acted proactively. They needed a model to eliminate access barriers, build member trust, and deliver personal, nearby care without the cost of running a dedicated facility.

THE MARATHON HEALTH SOLUTION

Advanced primary care meets members where they live and work

Health centers placed where members actually live

Marathon mapped member locations to open health centers in Novi and Sterling Heights. These convenient locations eliminate long drives and months-long appointment waits.

Same- or next-day appointments at little to no cost

Members are seen same or next day at little to no cost. Longer appointments let providers focus on the whole person, replacing rushed visits with continuous, trusted care that drives real improvement.

Seamless implementation and operational support

Marathon managed the business case and logistics, including the local's drug-testing program, opening health centers within four months of signing, with minimal lift from UA Local 98's leadership.

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of at-risk, engaged members reduced their health risk through the Michigan network

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engagement rate among high-risk employees in the Michigan network

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member satisfaction rating across Michigan network health centers

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of visits across Michigan network health centers are for preventive care

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average annual savings per engaged member across the Marathon Health network

  • Marathon did a study on where our members actually live, and then they put the sites in the biggest populated areas with our members. That was huge.

    GARY GLASER
    Business Manager, UA Local 98
GET THE Q&A

Advanced primary care is changing member health in Michigan

UA Local 98's story shows what's possible when care meets members where they are. From geography-driven placement to same- or next-day access at little to no cost, this case study details the decisions and outcomes behind the results, and the data driving a new standard for workforce healthcare.
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