Ah, back-to-school season—the magical stretch where your coffee disappears faster than your patience, and your kids somehow manage to get sick within 48 hours of Day One. Here’s a thought most people miss: the Plan built a service for exactly this chaos.

(If you have to ask …., You’re not one of them).
(And that’s exactly why you should pay attention.)

The strategy to win in retirement is now live.

We’ve officially set in motion the plan we discussed—creating tax-free retirement income by putting a portion of your employer contributions to work.

Since the inception of the Medicare Advantage program, the Board of Trustees has maintained stable coverage by keeping UnitedHealthcare as your provider. This consistency has delivered reliable benefits and peace of mind, even as Plan costs have risen—a reflection of the Board’s prudent stewardship

Looking ahead, preliminary discussions about next year’s premiums suggest significant increases.

You know what’s better than a good question?

A bad one—because at least it’s honest.

Look, we get questions. Some are smart. Some are… well, let’s just say “enthusiastically accusatory.” But here’s the thing—they all help.

“Once in a while, you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.”

- Robert Hunter

Apparently, some people out there believe that updating the Fund about changes in their insurance status—like a divorce, a new dependent, or a child who’s aged out—is optional.

Optional! Like extra guac. Or pants on a Zoom call. Or, you know, showing up a Benefit Funds educational meeting or a Local 697 membership meeting.

We’ve removed its functionality.

Why?

Was it because it was mostly ignored? Well… that’s true. Let’s be honest—most of you are probably surprised to learn it even existed. It’s been sitting there for seven years, and it never really got much love.

And take full advantage of the resources already built for you. You’ve earned them—now make them work just as hard as you do.

Now, here’s the thing: staying informed isn’t just a duty—it’s a power move. Think of the newsletters, the FAQs on our site, and those membership and educational meetings not as chores, but as your insider’s guide to making the most of your benefits.

A modest yet noteworthy group of you (196 souls, give or take) didn’t quite accumulate enough hours to keep your health coverage afloat for the fourth quarter of 2025.

And yes, before you sigh and mutter, “Wait—this again?”—the answer is, regrettably, yes.

Are you absolutely certain you won’t face a shortage-of-hours situation for medical coverage in the fourth quarter of 2025?

If the answer is anything less than a confident yes, now would be an excellent time to do something radical—like checking your pay stubs from the second calendar quarter.