ACHCCS INTRODUCTION LETTER:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to introduce to you, and present the reasons why your organization should become a member of the Atlantic Canada Health Care Coalition Society. The ACHCCS was incorporated on July 9, 2008 with 4 Founding Groups. It currently has 86 Groups comprised of over 800 Union Locals and is the first Coalition of its kind in Canada and is also a member of the National Labor Alliance of Health Care Coalitions.

The ACHCCS was formed to develop and consolidate the purchasing power of Benefit Plans, Unions, Associations and other Groups in Atlantic Canada. The ACHCCS is not a consolidation of Benefit Plans. It was simply formed to provide a mechanism where individual Benefit Plans can work together through their Board of Trustees, Benefit Committees, Unions, Associations and/or Employers where possible on reducing costs when purchasing various Benefits and other products for their Members and Retirees. The more Groups who join the ACHCCS, the greater purchasing power they will have with Third Party Providers.

This concept was derived from the many Coalitions currently in place with various Union/Management Benefit Plans in the U.S., which has proven to be successful with thousands of dollars of savings to these Plans. The cost for each Group to join the Coalition is an initiation fee of $50.00 which will easily be recovered in the first month of savings.

ACHCCS CURRENT MEMBERS: See Member Groups - The Coalition membership now totals a little over 300,000 Union members and together with their spouses and dependents total well over 500,000 people who are entitled to participate in the various Coalition  Programs negotiated with Benefit Providers.

MHCSI PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARD PROGRAM & LAWTONS DRUGS PREFERRED CLIENT GROUP DISCOUNT CARD PROGRAM:

The first Agreement the ACHCCS signed was with MHCSI – Managed Health Care Services Inc. This Agreement provided a Lawtons/Sobeys Prescription Card where members of the Coalition can choose among the three options available under the MHCSI Participation Program consistent with their own Benefit Plan objectives.

In addition to cost savings of prescriptions drugs when using the MHCSI Prescription Drug Program, the standard plan administration fees are waived for ACHCCS groups. Savings are based on the volume of participation by all members and their families in the Coalition. Also, the Benefit Plans or member receive “coverage” based on the volume of prescription drugs purchased by all members and their families in the Coalition.

The current “coverage” for prescriptions is $3.00 which is paid back to the Benefit Plan at the end of each year, or can be applied to the co-pay cost to a member, if your Plan has a co-pay on prescription drugs. Coalition members also receive a Lawtons Drugs preferred discount card which provides discounts of 5 to 40% on a wide variety of front shop products purchased at Lawtons Drugs.  Whether your members wish to take advantage of savings with the MHCSI Prescription Drug Program or Lawtons Discount Card is totally their choice.

GROUP HOME &  AUTO PROGRAM:

A second Agreement was signed between the ACHCCS and the Co-operators Insurance Company on a Group Home & Auto Policy which can provide discounts for Coalition members on their Home and Auto Insurance. Under this Agreement, Coalition members have the option to call the Co-operators toll free number to request a group quote on their Home & Auto Insurance coverage  to compare with the costs of these coverages with their current Insurance Provider.

OPTUM RX US PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT CARD:

Through the Atlantic Canada Health Care Coalition’s partnership with Optum Rx, they now offer a US Prescription Drug Discount Card that can be used by all Coalition members and their families when travelling to the United States.

Accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies across the United States, the prescription discount card can help members save 10% - 85% on both brand and generic medications. The card is FREE, has no limitations on use, and members can even share it with your family and friends. Members enjoy lower out of pocket expense and your Fund will have a lower reimbursement cost!

CO-OPERATORS COMMUNITY PROGRAM:

The Co-operators provide Coalitions Unions group discounts through their Community Guard Program on Commercial General Liability Insurance, Fiduciary Insurance and various other insurance coverages your Union may need.

ALLIANZ GLOBAL ASSISTANCE:

HILTON HOTELS DISCOUNT:

Coalition members receive a 10% discount at the following 3 Hilton Hotels in downtown Halifax - Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, The Hollis Halifax.

OTHER BENEFIT PROVIDERS:

In addition to promoting the above Agreements, the ACHCCS will be looking at other benefits or products, where they can negotiate Agreements with other Third Party Providers to assist members and their families.

ACHCCS MEMBERSHIP GROWTH:

In summary, the purchasing power of the Coalition is based on a strong participation of all members, which will be the key success of this new innovative way for Benefit Plans to address the continuing rising costs of Prescription Drugs, and Other Benefits in Atlantic Canada. Currently, we are focusing on recruiting more Groups to join the Coalition which will enhance its purchasing power.

In closing, I would be pleased to do a presentation to your Board of Trustees or Benefit Committee or Union Executive on the value for your organization to join the ACHCCS.

Also joining me would be Leanne McFarlane and Krista Williams from MHCSI.

Yours Truly;

Fern Tardif
Executive Director
Atlantic Canada Health Care Coalition Society