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Case Study

UA Local 440: Transforming union healthcare

Uncover how UA Local 440 partnered with Marathon Health to save members over $11M in healthcare costs while driving meaningful improvements in health outcomes.
Read the case study

Labor organizations face relentless pressure to deliver quality healthcare benefits while keeping costs in check. For many, that tension raises a critical question: how can a labor group improve member health without driving up the cost of their health and welfare fund? UA Local 440 in Indianapolis confronted this challenge head-on—and found an answer that reshaped how their members access and experience care.

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ABOUT UA LOCAL 440

A union built on family, committed to wellbeing

Who they are

UA Local 440 is a plumbing and pipefitting union based in Indianapolis, Indiana, representing approximately 2,300 members and their dependents—a total eligible population of 4,000. Like many labor organizations, UA Local 440 operates a health and welfare fund responsible for providing comprehensive benefits to its membership.

A community, not just a workforce

The union’s culture runs deep. Members don’t just work together—they look out for one another. This extends to how Local 440 thinks about healthcare: not as a line item, but as a reflection of how much they value their people.

THE CHALLENGE

Balancing member needs with rising healthcare costs

UA Local 440 needed to offer benefit plans that were attractive to members and supported real health outcomes. At the same time, the union had to control the cost trend threatening the fund's long-term sustainability.

  • Providing flexible care options that fit members' schedules and needs

  • Designing benefit plans that drive meaningful member engagement

  • Reducing the rising cost trend of the health and welfare fund

Without a solution addressing access, engagement, and cost simultaneously, UA Local 440 risked higher spend with diminishing returns on member health. The union needed a partner who could deliver care that was convenient, comprehensive, and built to last.

THE MARATHON HEALTH SOLUTION

Advanced primary care designed around union members and their families

Flexible access built around members' lives

Marathon Health offered after-hours appointments and extended consultation times. Members could prioritize their health without rearranging their workday, making it easier to stay ahead of issues.

Comprehensive services under one shared health center

From preventive care and condition management to immediate care and wellness programs, the shared health center gave members access to a broad range of services—including common prescriptions at no cost.

Referral support and care coordination for members

When members needed specialty care, Marathon Health provided high-value referral services to ensure seamless coordination—connecting members to the right care at the right time.

Downtown Indianapolis skyline featuring the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and a tall glass skyscraper under blue skies
MEMBER SATISFACTION
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satisfaction score reflecting the trust and loyalty members have built with their care team

$ 0 M

saved in out-of-pocket expenses, directly reducing the financial burden on individual members

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engagement rate among members and spouses—well above industry benchmarks

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of hypertensive patients lowered their blood pressure through ongoing care

$ 0 M

saved in total healthcare costs for UA Local 440 members and their dependents since 2015

  • It’s a neat thing because not only have we gotten to know [Dr. Melita Schuster] as our physician, but also on a personal basis. With the brotherhood and local union, we’ve always looked at everybody as a family.
    RON HUTCHINSON
    Union member, UA Local 440
GET THE CASE STUDY

See what better care looks like for union members

The UA Local 440 case study details how a labor organization transformed healthcare access and outcomes for thousands of members, saving $11 million in the process. Download it to explore the model and what it could mean for your members.
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