Financial Secretary/Treasurer

Plumbers Local 98 Insurance Fund Plan Members

Welcome to Costco Health Solutions, your new prescription benefit provider, effective 4/1/2021.

Costco Health Solutions is excited about the opportunity to provide you with our full-service pharmacy benefits, available at more than 64,000 retail pharmacies nationwide, including Costco pharmacies. You do not have to use a retail Costco Pharmacy to fill your retail prescriptions, but you are free to do so and a Costco membership will not be required. To find an in- network retail pharmacy, including Costco locations, near you, please visit: www.costcohealthsolutions.com.  Wal-Mart and Sam Club’s retail pharmacies are excluded.

Your pharmacy benefit allows you to fill your 90-day generic maintenance medications at any retail pharmacy. If you have questions regarding your benefit, please call Costco Health Solutions Customer Care at: 1-877-908-6024. For additional information about Costco Health Solutions and your prescription benefit please visit: www.costcohealthsolutions.com.

 

For future references, find this information on the Benefits page.

UA Scholarship

UA Scholarship Fund Information

We are pleased to announce that the United Association Scholarship Trust Fund is gearing up for the 2021-2022 academic year scholarship awards. Up to 112 scholarships totaling as much as $222,000 will be awarded this year, including 106 for students pursuing undergraduate studies and up to six for students pursuing graduate studies. Scholarships range from $1,500 to $5,000 each. Generally, dependents of UA members who are pursing a post-high school education at an accredited college or university may apply for a scholarship (please see eligibility requirements and award criteria in the detailed instructions found with the application). The deadline for submitting applications is June 9, 2021.

Applications are exclusively accepted electronically through https://uascholarshipfund.communityforce.com/. The application is now live and potential applicants can check that website and click on the “Login” icon at the top right corner for additional instructions to access and submit applications. Note that upon logging in, users should be sure to click on the scholarship titled 2021 United Association Scholarship.

Awards will primarily be based on academic achievement and potential, personal achievement, and community involvement. Financial need may also be considered. Scholarships will be awarded without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Applications will be judged by an independent and impartial Selection Committee, comprised of distinguished members of the community. The Selection Committee may request information concerning the financial circumstances of applicants and use this information in the award of scholarships. Also, note that because UA scholarships do not automatically renew each year, receiving an award in one year does not guarantee you awards in future years.

In addition, six scholarships will be given to “Second Chance” awardees. Those selected will be students whose academic achievement is not the best in their region, but who demonstrate they want another chance at an education to advance their potential for higher-paying employment.

We would like to thank everyone for supporting the Fund, and look forward to awarding our next round of scholarships to our deserving UA students.

December 2020 Updates

Brothers and Sisters,

Local 98 new Hearing Coverage: Recently you received a notice about the change we made to our hearing coverage. This letter has caused some confusion so I would like to try and clear it up. The way the new insurance works is every participant will receive up to $3,000 every 3 years for hearing aids, batteries, etc. This will work just like the HRA, once you pay for the items you will submit the receipt to BeneSys to get a reimbursement. I am working with BeneSys at this time to get a form dedicated to hearing. The notice also included information about the company Nations Hearing. The members DO NOT have to use Nations Hearing, although Local 98 worked special discounts with Nations Hearing so the member’s money can go farther. The other big difference with this new coverage is that Medicare retirees and opt out members are eligible for the coverage as well. If you have any questions please give me a call.

2021 Open Enrollment: The 2021 Open Enrollment Packets should be coming out soon and I wanted to take this time to remind members about the new Opt Out Plan we have. This is available to those members with access to insurance through their spouses. The new Opt Out Plan comes with Dental, Optical, Hearing, and a $3.00 an hour contribution to your HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) for every hour worked. This is a great way to build up a savings for medical related expenses. If you would like more information on this plan or any of the other Local 98 Health Insurance Plans please give me a call and I can go over everything with you.

Note on Disability: If you are filing for Social Security Disability you will need to file for your Local 98 Disability Pension at the same time in order to make sure you get all your pension checks. Social Security normally takes at least a year and sometimes a lot longer. If you file for your Local 98 Disability Pension at the same time, then when you receive your award from Social Security we will be able to pay you all the retro money owed.

Dues: By now you have received a letter about the status of your Union Dues and about the 2021 Dues Gift Program. Many of you have already taken advantage of this program. Kristina and I are updating the systems at the hall in an effort to streamline the process. As of now, you can pay online, over the phone, or by mailing in a check. You can also set up auto-payments. If you have any questions or need to pay dues please contact Kristina Lodovisi at (248) 307-9800 ext. 4 or on her cell at (248) 331-7232.

Politics: The 2020 cycle is over so we are now looking forward to the municipal elections in 2021 and then the midterms in 2022. If you are interested in running for local office or are interested in being involved in a member driven political action committee please contact me. Kristina and I are working on potential target city councils, township boards, and school boards where we would like members to run. Every year we lose a ton of work when these local boards vote against us. It’s time we put Union Members on these boards instead of consistently being disappointed in those who should be fighting for us leaving us in the cold.

 

Jon DeRoo, Financial Secretary and Treasurer

COVID-19 Testing Center

The Detroit COVID-19 Drive Thru Testing site shifted from the State Fair Grounds to Joseph Walker Williams Community Center located at 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd. All tests will be conducted indoors.

Testing will be open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tests are free to all Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county residents and there is no prescription needed. (They also take all city employees.)

APPOINTMENT IS REQUIRED.

To make an appointment call the CCCN Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

COVID-19 Drive Thru (313) 230-0505

Click here for more information on the Joseph Walker Williams Community Center Testing site.

Click here for the most current information about Coronavirus here in Michigan.

August 15th Golf Outing Update

GOLF OUTING

I want to extend a huge thank you to the following people who helped with the 2020 Local 98 Scholarship Golf Outing: New Local 98 Office Manager Kristina Lodovisi, Dominique Schroeder (member Bill Schroeder’s Daughter), William Jester, Ron DeRoo, Chris Wright, Trevor Dockham, Tyler DeFrank, Duane Tesch, Mike Muzzey, Jeremy Pitts, Wade Kovach and his son Hunter, Gary Glaser, Larry Delehant, Tom McWilliams, Rob Moses, Carlo Castiglione. Also, to my patient wife Carianne and daughters, Kaitlyn, Lauren, and Molly, for stuffing all the goody bags again this year. Thank you, as well, to all of our sponsors who make the day possible: Benesys, AsherKelly, Guideline Mechanical, American Graphics, Nickel Saph, Strategic Capital Investment Advisors, Bultynck and Co, Dan Allor Plumbing and Heating, W.J. O’Neil, Novara Tesija & Catenacci, PLLC, Macomb Group, FMG Concrete Cutting, Flint Plumbers and Pipefitters Local #370, Goyette Mechanical, Hoyt, Brumm, and Link, Health Plan Advocate, Paul Walter CPA, Metro Piping, Jills Genuine Care Pharmacy, Western Mechanical, The Local Credit Union, Morgan Stanley-Jason May, Michigan Building Trades, Michael Serling, Humana, HAP, Ullico, Fifth Third, Michigan Maritime Trades, Esper Aiello, Scott and Scott, Golden Dental, Med Tipster, Americare, Segal Consulting, Thronton Law Firm, TMR and Associates, MCA Detroit, and Pat Coleman.

 

The day was very successful and because of our generous sponsors we will again be able to hand out multiple scholarships to Local 98 family members. The team representing Guideline Mechanical came in with the low score of the day at -15; the team consisted of Members Joe Carreri, Bryan Culver, Chris Shipp, and Dan Rotto. Member Chris Wright won the raffle for the golf clubs. There was 1 skin on the day and that went to the team representing Flint Plumbers and Pipefitters Local #370; the team consisted of LU #370 Business Manager Harold Harrington, Dan Gaudet, Jeremy Cook, and Paul Gonzales. Thanks again to everyone that came out and enjoyed a beautiful day with us. See you all next year!

 

In Brotherhood, Jon DeRoo Financial Secretary/Treasurer Plumbers Local 98