Worker Benefits ProgramWelcome to the USFWC Worker Benefits Program
The USFWC has a Worker Benefits Program to provide more affordable health benefits to our members like vision, dental, disability & accident insurance and more.
We know that the only true path to health equity in this country is comprehensive and free healthcare for every person -- and that’s why the USFWC has endorsed Medicare for All. We also know that our members have healthcare needs NOW, and by pooling together, we can make the cost of quality workplace benefits less expensive and easier to administer. That’s why the USFWC Worker Benefits Program exists.
Check out our 2024 Worker Benefits Webinar Recordings in English and Spanish
Enrollment is open to all USFWC members.
Health Insurance (in select states), HRA/HSA/FSA benefits, and Vivana perks are available on a rolling basis.
Become a member to access benefits!
Ready to get started? Email us at benefits@usworker.coop
Benefits Info Quick Links
Video Libraries
Benefits Programs
Dental insurance provided by Delta Dental is available in every state at a competitive rate with rich benefits.
Organization Requirements
- Organizations of all member classes are eligible (associate members must pay minimum $500 in dues)
- We require that workplaces pay a minimum of 50% of workers' monthly premiums. We strongly encourage workplaces to pay as close as possible to 100% of the cost because it is in the best financial interest of both the business and the worker.
- Workplaces are not required to contribute to the monthly premium for non-workers (dependents).
- Each workplace must have 70% enrollment of qualifying workers to enroll in dental, not including workers that are covered by a partner’s plan.
Individual Requirements
- Workers must work 20+ hours a week, and have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) to be eligible. (LLC coops taxed as partnerships contact benefits@usworker.coop to discuss options)
- Dependents are eligible until age 26.
- Partners are eligible for coverage. Legal marriage is not required, though you must be able to provide proof of shared bills or lease showing shared residence upon request. Our plans are LGBTQ-friendly.
- Disclosure of legal name and sex are required by insurance companies for enrollment, but if requested we will use an individual's chosen name and accurate gender identity in correspondence.
Our vision insurance is available in every state at a competitive rate with rich benefits.
Organization Requirements
- Organizations of all member classes are eligible (associate members must pay minimum $500 in dues)
- We require that workplaces pay a minimum of 50% of workers' monthly premiums. We strongly encourage workplaces to pay as close as possible to 100% of the cost because it is in the best financial interest of both the business and the worker.
- Workplaces are not required to contribute to the monthly premium for non-workers (dependents).
- There is no minimum participation requirement for vision insurance.
Individual Requirements
- Workers must work 20+ hours a week, and have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) to be eligible. (LLC coops taxed as partnerships, contact benefits@usworker.coop to discuss options)
- Dependents are eligible until age 26.
- Partners are eligible for coverage. Legal marriage is not required, though you must be able to provide proof of shared bills or lease showing shared residence upon request. Our plans are LGBTQ-friendly.
- Disclosure of legal name and sex are required by insurance companies for enrollment, but if requested we will use an individual's chosen name and accurate gender identity in correspondence.
Just Futures and the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives are partnering to make it easy for worker cooperatives to offer values-aligned, affordable retirement benefits.
Just Futures is a financial platform that connects nonprofits, their workers, and ordinary people with values-aligned financial solutions, informed by social justice movements, that build towards a more inclusive and sustainable economy for all.
USFWC members receive discounted pricing on startup and advisory fees for retirement plans with Just Futures. By partnering with Just Futures, the USFWC offers members access to a needed benefit through an investment model designed by experts to support movement organizations and the transition to a just and regenerative economy. Just Futures provides flexible solutions that can meet the diverse needs of USFWC members!
Note: The USFWC is not responsible for the operations or outcomes of retirement plans implemented through Just Futures.
HRAs, FSAs and HSAs - three options to make pre-tax funds available to workers to pay for healthcare costs. Depending on your organization and its eligibility, these structures can be used for health care premiums, out of pocket costs, as well as childcare.
- Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)- Company sets aside a certain amount of money per-worker (not taxed as payroll) for healthcare costs. Requires group health insurance plan to be in place.
- Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) - Some types of HRAs are specifically for workers to pay for health insurance premiums.
- Health Savings Account (HSA)- A savings account that belongs to the worker, not the company, to pay for healthcare costs. HSAs require you to have a qualifying high deductible health plan.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - An account that complements a group insurance plan through a workplace to pay for additional healthcare costs.
- Dependent Care FSA - An account that allows workers to designate pre-tax income to use for qualifying childcare expenses for children 13 and under, as well as certain types of older adult dependent care.
Tax-advantaged plans with the Harrison Group - English / Spanish
New for 2021: The Affordable Care Act has expanded subsidies, which may make Affordable Care Act plans the best option for your workplace. Find out more here!
2023 General Health Insurance Coverage
Finding high-quality insurance at affordable rates for groups or individuals is extremely challenging in the United States. Plus, health insurance works a little differently in every state, making it impossible to have a one-size-fits-all solution for our members across the country. We have gathered resources, are doing research, and building partnerships to help USFWC members access health care more easily and more affordably.
We do NOT offer multiple employer medical insurance plans. We have limited ability to help our members offer organization-specific small group medical insurance in Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.
Options are different state-to-state, so please email us at benefits@usworker.coop for details, quotes and help in Spanish.
Administrative Costs
There is a $250 annual fee to enroll your organization in health insurance through the USFWC Worker Benefits Program.
Accident Insurance
- What is accident insurance? Accident insurance offers payments to cover out-of-pocket costs related to experiencing an accident, such as ambulance costs, hospital copays, follow-up treatments, and lodging or equipment related to recuperation.
- It can supplement medical insurance or provide stop-gap coverage for people ineligible for general health insurance
- It applies to accidents that happen at work or outside of work.
- Who can sign up?
- To access accident benefits, member organizations must pay a one-time annual fee. At that point, any worker at that organization may sign up directly with our broker.
- Workplaces are not required to pay a portion of the monthly accident premiums, but are encouraged to do so if possible.
- Please note that accident insurance is paid for by the worker - not the organization.
- Accident Coverage
Provided by Colonial Life
English / Spanish - Info fliers for workers: English / Spanish
Short-term Disability Insurance
- What is short-term disability insurance? Short-term disability insurance is paid for by the individual, not the workplace. It provides partial replacement of income in the event that an individual cannot work because of pregnancy/childbirth or because of an injury or illness that originated outside* of the workplace
- * Injury or illness that originates on the job is typically covered by workers' compensation insurance (workers' comp). Coverage for illness or injury on the job is available at an additional cost for anyone without access to workers' comp. Workplaces interested in paying for group disability insurance should contact benefits@usworker.coop to get an organizational quote.
- * Injury or illness that originates on the job is typically covered by workers' compensation insurance (workers' comp). Coverage for illness or injury on the job is available at an additional cost for anyone without access to workers' comp. Workplaces interested in paying for group disability insurance should contact benefits@usworker.coop to get an organizational quote.
- Why is it important to sign up now? Sometimes, the short-term disability insurance company can deny coverage for preexisting conditions; however, for those who sign up during open enrollment for 2022, no one can be disqualified, and coverage is guaranteed-issue.
- During Open Enrollment all enrollees are guaranteed issue. This means:
- Individuals with preexisting conditions that originated before the first day of coverage will be eligible to receive benefits for leave relating to those conditions after one year of enrollment
- Individuals with conditions that originate after the first day of enrollment will be immediately eligible to receive benefits for disability leave relating to those conditions
- Who needs disability coverage?
- Disability can affect any one of us at any time, and disability insurance ensures that, in the event you suddenly cannot work because of an eligible illness or injury, you still get part of your income for up to six months.
- Typically, disability insurance does not include coverage for preexisting conditions; however, for our special 2022 open enrollment period, preexisting conditions will be eligible for coverage beginning one year after the coverage start date
- This special 2022 enrollment period is particularly important for those who have chronic conditions that may eventually impact one’s ability to work, even if they do not right now.
- While short term disability does not cover loss of income due to incidents that happen on the job, it is particularly useful for those whose jobs involve manual and/or strenuous labor, and whose ability to work may be more significantly impacted by illness or injury. For example, if you break your leg outside of work and you are a construction worker, your ability to do your job may be more impacted than if you break your leg outside of work and you work at a desk. However, disability cannot be predicted and can impact any person at any time in a variety of ways.
- Disability can affect any one of us at any time, and disability insurance ensures that, in the event you suddenly cannot work because of an eligible illness or injury, you still get part of your income for up to six months.
- Who can sign up?
- To access disability benefits, member organizations must pay a one-time annual fee. At that point, any worker who works over 20 hours per week may sign up directly with our broker.
- Please note that this disability insurance is paid for by the worker - not the organization.
- Disability Coverage
Provided by Colonial Life
English / Spanish - Info fliers for workers: English / Spanish
The USFWC is proud to offer health-related benefits and perks to its membership, provided through Vivana. There are discounts on food, electronics, movies, and a lot more.
Here’s a few of our favorites:
- 15% off Healthy Paws pet insurance
- Discounted movie tickets to Regal Cinemas and AMC.
- Discounted hotels
- Discounted enrollment at Planet Fitness Gym
Members, email benefits@usworker.coop to get your organization's access code.
Thank you to our sponsor
About the Worker Benefits Program
We know that the only true path to health equity in this country is comprehensive and free healthcare for every person -- and that’s why the USFWC has endorsed Medicare for All. We also know that our members have healthcare needs NOW, and by pooling together, we can make the cost of quality workplace benefits less expensive and easier to administer. That’s why the USFWC Worker Benefits Program exists.
Since 2018, we’ve provided our members with an option for group dental and vision insurance for their workers. To date, over 60 of our member organizations in urban and rural areas across the U.S. have participated in this program, with over 600 people participating in the program presently. In 2022, we continue to offer dental and vision benefits, medical insurance in some states, and new accident and disability benefits for on and off the job. This year also brings a new, low-cost option for administering tax-advantaged funds for healthcare costs through HRAs, FSAs and HSAs.
We are also in a research process to introduce a retirement benefit, and to expand health insurance options.
Each of our programs include a small fee so we can support your organization with administration and maintain and expand our avenues to affordable benefits products. To join our Worker Benefits Program, please fill out this form! Questions? Contact us at benefits@usworker.coop!
How to enroll outside open enrollment for new USFWC members:
Workplaces may email benefits@usworker.coop to enroll as an organization. This includes organizations of all classes of USFWC membership. Associate members must pay a minimum of $500 per year in membership dues to qualify.
Here's how it works:
- Email us at benefits@usworker.coop to let us know you're interested in enrolling.
- Employees of organizations that are already enrolled who did not opt in last year may fill out this form to enroll.
- We will send you an Enrollment Roster to list the workers to be enrolled, along with a contract for the services that your organization is enrolling in.
- Each employee will fill out a secure form with their personal information
- We will send a confirmation of enrollment and work with you to ensure everyone has enrolled.
After you're enrolled:
- You will be billed from the USFWC for dental and vision separately at the beginning of the month based on the amount of employees enrolled on the 1st of that month. e.g November 1st, you would be billed for November coverage.
- For general health, disability, and accident insurance, you will be billed annually according to the rate sheet
Your vision and dental rates as well as the USFWC admin rates are set through December 31st, 2022.
