APWU Health Plan Makes a Commitment to the Community

(This article first appeared in the January/February 2022 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)

Walk. Donate. Educate.

The Health Plan made a decision in 2021 to become actively involved in its surrounding community. As a health insurance company, it is important to not just talk about healthy goals but to actively promote healthy causes. After considering many different worthy organizations, the Health Plan decided to support organizations involved in what we affectionately nicknamed the Big 3 – Breast Cancer, Diabetes, and Heart Disease. We participated in fundraising and provided teams to walk in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Step Out for Diabetes, and Greater Maryland Heart Walk fundraising events. Health Plan employees participated in all three walks and walked almost 10 miles. Working with our partners Cigna and United Healthcare, the Health Plan team donated $7,500 for all three events.

It’s time to get back on track. Rightfully, all attention was on COVID-19, and for a while, most providers suspended preventive care, but it is now time to catch up. We want to encourage everyone to get their annual physical along with screenings for breast cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Preventive screenings are covered at 100% by the Health Plan when services are performed at a network provider. Breast Cancer – Breast Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in women. Early detection is key to survival. Breast cancer, when found early, is easier to treat successfully. Talk to your doctor about scheduling your routine mammogram.

Diabetes – Diabetes is the No. 7 leading cause of death in the U.S. in adults over 20 years of age. If you are diagnosed with prediabetes, small lifestyle changes are important to lower your risk of diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your weight and blood pressure and if you smoke, ask how this will impact your diabetes. Heart Disease – Heart Disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. The more risk factors you have, the higher your chance of developing coronary heart disease. Major risk factors include age, gender, and heredity. Major risk factors you can control include cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity.

Our Health Plan employees participated in the efforts to raise funds in support of #4MyCity and Maryland Food Bank. These organizations provide meals to local families in the Maryland metro areas. You might have noticed our Facebook posts for Toys for Tots. We surpassed our goals and provided toys to many children. The Health Plan will continue with all these worthy projects and want to step up our involvement. We will add service projects to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. that will benefit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Lighthouse Shelter.

I could not be prouder of the Health Plan team. Their participation in these projects is a great example of their concern for our members and commitment to their health. Please check out our efforts on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube pages.

Tentative Agreement and your Health Plan

Great news about your Health Insurance in the tentative agreement: APWU career members enrolled in the APWU Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) will continue to receive their 95% Postal Service contribution towards their premium. This agreement has a new added benefit for Postal Support Employees (PSE) who are converting to a career position. The time PSEs are enrolled in the APWU CDHP prior to conversion will count towards the year required to qualify for the 95% postal contribution. In addition, there is no change to the Postal Service contribution to the premiums for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB). This agreement will keep your excellent health insurance benefits in place.