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In an effort to control escalating Healthcare costs while maintaining excellent benefits and access to high quality medical care, the Fund Office recently launched a member awareness and wellness program. This program is designed to communicate various issues on controlling healthcare costs for you and your Health & Welfare Program so that our healthcare dollars are used wisely and are available to cover needed medical services and treatment

As healthcare costs continue to rise, the Fund Office wants to ensure that you are getting the most value for your dollar. Over a recent 12-month period, the Health & Welfare Fund paid out a total $53 million for medical, hospital, prescription drug and dental expenses incurred by active and retired participants. When compared to the prior 12-month period, medical costs incurred by the Health & Welfare fund increased significantly by 16.5% or a total of $7.5 million.

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. When healthcare costs increase much faster then wages, many people will no longer be able to afford healthcare coverage.

The Southern California Health & Welfare Fund is a self-funded health benefit plan designed for your health benefit needs. Contributions made by you to the Health & Welfare Fund are directly used to pay your health care cost needs. Furthermore, contributions to the Health & Welfare Fund are not taxable to you.

The Fund Office strived to keep administrative expenses for the Health & Welfare Fund to a minimum to ensure that you receive the best possible value for your money. For the plan year of 2004, Health & Welfare operating income totaled only 7.9%.

In an effort to control costs, the Health & Welfare Fund will provide information such as quality and generic drug prices. The Fund Office also has many programs in place to reduce medical costs and reduce your out-of-pocket after-tax expenses. There include the AHF Hospital and doctor network and case management services.

When in comes to the cost of your healthcare, your choices make a difference. All your healthcare decisions affect the Health & Welfare Fund. For example, using AHF providers whenever possible, especially for non-emergency or elective procedures, saves you and the Fund money.