.  Medicare Part-D  .  HIPAA Privacy  .   

Healthcare Awareness

Making smart health decisions throughout your life will influence your overall wellbeing as well as the quality and cost of your care. You should learn about the simple choices you can make that can help you stay healthy and help control your healthcare costs.
=====================================================

A)  Always use AHF Providers

As a participant of the Southern California Health & Welfare  using AHF contracted Providers is the most cost-efficient method to pay for healthcare for you and your family.

 
EXAMPLE : Benefit of using AHF Providers
Health by-pass Surgery using Non-AHF and AHF contracted providers.

	Non-AHF Providers  (Hospital Stay of 8 days)	AHF Contracted Providers (Hospital Stay of  35 days)
	Total Costs	Total Costs
Hospital	$211,915	$240,780
	Daily hospital cost $26,489	Daily hospital cost $6,879
Surgeon	$12,792	$15,350
Assistant Surgeon	$5,699	$3,005
Total Charges	$230,406	$259,135
Discount	$0	$84,048
Trust Fund Paid	$204,150	$166,660
Participant Owed	$26,256	$8,427

=====================================================

B) Rising healthcare costs

Between 1999 and 2003, our nation's per capita spending for services covered by private health insurance increased by 30% while the average hourly earnings of U.S. workers increased by only 14% during that same period.

 

EXAMPLE : Rising healthcare costs
Escalating healthcare costs in 2002 and 2004 of heart by-pass surgeries.

	2002	2004
Surgeon Costs	$8,200	$12,792	Increased 56%
Assistant Surgeon Costs	$2,215	$5,699	Increased 157%

=====================================================

C) Contribute to healthcare

Contributions made by you to the Health & Welfare Fund are directly used to pay your health care cost needs. As a participant of the Southern California Pipe Trades Health & Welfare plan, you can help.

 

EXAMPLE : Rising healthcare costs
Hours you need to work to pay for a heart by-pass surgery claim.

For the Trust Fund to pay for a $204,150 heart by-pass surgery claim, it will take the following amount of hours worked by a participant:

38,738 hours or 968 weeks or 18.6 years **
** at 40 hours worked per week at $5.27 H&W contribution rate