News, Media and Events

 

The Board of Trustees of the Electrical Welfare Trust Fund is pleased to inform you that, effective May 1, 2010, the EWTF will enter into an agreement with the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Choice Plus Network replacing OneNet, the current Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).
 
The Trustees have made this change because the provider discounts offered with the UHC Choice Plus Network are significantly greater than OneNet’s discounts and will provide greater savings to both you and the EWTF. You should note that the OneNet PPO is owned by UnitedHealthcare, and therefore all of your current OneNet providers are also participating in the Choice Plus Network. If you are seeing a OneNet provider, this means that you don’t need to change providers in order to stay in the network!
 
This strictly is a change in networks - EWTF will continue to process your claims and you should contact EWTF with your claims questions like you do now. The UHC Choice Plus Network has an extensive network of hospitals and physicians in most areas where EWTF participants live. Each time you and your family need health care services, you will continue to have the freedom to choose physicians and hospitals in or out of the Choice Plus Network.
 
Whenever you utilize a UHC Choice Plus Network provider, they will file your claim(s) automatically. You should have little or no paperwork involved in filing your claims.
 
UHC also will provide the EWTF utilization review services. Anytime you and/or your family members require inpatient hospitalization, you should contact UHC 48 hours prior to a scheduled hospital admission. For emergency admissions, call within two business days following the admission. The telephone number is located on your new EWTF identification card(s).
 
Your new ID card(s) will be mailed to you on or about April 16, 2010. Please destroy your old card(s) and begin using the new card(s) for any treatment received on or after May 1, 2010. You should present your new ID card to your provider whenever you obtain health care services and supplies, including prescription drugs through the Caremark Pharmacy Program. This card also contains valuable reference information regarding mailing claims and the telephone numbers to call if you have questions. Please note that UHC uses a 12-digit identification number; however, the last 6 digits are still your identification number for all other purposes under EWTF.
 
Remember, it is your responsibility to verify that your provider/hospital is in the UHC Choice Plus Network. Your provider must be in the network in order for you to receive discounted services. You may review the Choice Plus Network website at http://directory.uhis.com for help in selecting an in-network provider using the name of the network from the ID card.



 

 
© Local 26 IBEW-NECA Joint Trust Funds 2008. All rights reserved.


 

Save the Date - August 7, 2010

Make plans to attend the 3rd annual Health Fair during the Local 26 Picnic at Camp Letts in Edgewater, Maryland. 




May 1, 2010 - Begin using new EWTF identification card

Why should EWTF participants eligible on May 1, 2010 use the new EWTF hospitalization card?

  • To take advantage of the deepest discounts available by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Choice Plus Network providers.
  • The card contains the mailing address for the provider to submit your claims.
  • It is also your Prescription Card.
  • It contains information for your dental provider to submit claims on your behalf.  (OneNet is the dental PPO).
  • You must notify UHC prior to beginning certain treatments - the notification number is on the card.
  • Mental health services including treatment for substance abuse must be pre-certified by Business Health Services and their number is on the card.