Long-Term Care for Union Members
A portable, member-paid long-term care program designed for union locals. No trust funding required. Hollowtree handles education, enrollment, and member advocacy.
How it works
Members pay premiums directly to the carrier in the standard structure. The local and the health & welfare trust are not expected to fund premiums by default.
The policy is owned by the member, so coverage can continue through contractor changes, local transfers, and retirement, subject to policy terms.
Program designs may include traditional long-term care or hybrid LTC plus life insurance options, depending on carrier, case design, and member fit.
Hollowtree supports member education, enrollment, care coaching, and claim navigation. Carrier adjudication and policy administration remain with the insurer.
The risk members face
~70%
of Americans turning 65 will need long-term care
$100k+
annual cost of a private room in a nursing facility
Limited
Medicare coverage for custodial and long-term care
Many Americans turning 65 are expected to need some form of long-term care during their lives. Standard health coverage and Medicare are generally not designed to fund ongoing custodial care.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, ACL.gov
Members in building trades, transportation, and manufacturing often retire earlier and live with cumulative physical wear, which can make care needs arrive sooner than for the general population.
When members move between contractors, projects, or locals, employer-sponsored benefits typically do not follow them. A member-owned, portable policy is designed to.
Members caring for an aging parent or spouse may turn down foreman roles, refuse travel, or step back from overtime. Leadership often only learns about it after pension-earning years are affected.
Built for union locals
The policy belongs to the member. It is designed to travel across contractors, locals, and into retirement without requiring employer or trust involvement to maintain.
Depending on the carrier and group size, members may have access to standalone long-term care coverage, hybrid life/LTC policies, or both.
Some carriers offer simplified or shortened underwriting for eligible groups, which can broaden access for members who might not qualify through individual channels. Availability depends on carrier and group size.
Hollowtree provides care coaching to enrolled members from the start of coverage, not just at the point of claim. This includes planning resources, family coordination support, and claim navigation when the time comes.
Operational simplicity
Members pay premiums directly to the carrier. No payroll deduction, no trust remittance, no reconciliation by local staff.
Once access is approved, Hollowtree manages education sessions, enrollment logistics, and ongoing member support.
Because this is a voluntary, member-paid benefit, it does not need to wait for contract negotiations or trust board meetings to begin.
Members pay premiums directly to the carrier. No local staff time, no trust reconciliation, no payroll integration.
Implementation
Design
Week 1
Launch
Week 2
Enrollment
Weeks 3-4
Trust and security
Hollowtree operates on a SOC 2 Type II audited platform, with controls verified by an independent auditor.
All carriers in the program hold an AM Best rating of A or higher, reflecting strong financial stability and claims-paying ability.
Member advocacy commitments are documented in writing, including care coaching, claim navigation, and family coordination support.
Case study
A 1,200-member building trades local launched the program without trust funding or payroll deduction. Education sessions were scheduled around shift patterns. Within four weeks, the local moved from initial design to active enrollment with no additional staff workload.
Members eligible: 1,200
Time to launch: 4 weeks
Trust cost: $0
Staff hours required: 0
Your next step
A confidential, no-obligation report built for your local. It includes projected participation, carrier options, premium ranges, and a full implementation plan.
Schedule a 15-Minute CallFAQ
In the standard structure, no. Members pay premiums directly to the carrier. There is no cost to the local, the trust, or the health and welfare fund unless leadership chooses to explore a trust-funded model.
No. Members are billed directly by the carrier. There is no payroll deduction, no premium remittance, and no reconciliation required by the local or trust.
Approve member access, review co-branded communications, and receive reporting during rollout. Hollowtree handles education, enrollment, and ongoing member support.
Yes. The policy is owned by the member, so it is designed to travel with them across contractors, locals, and into retirement, subject to policy terms.
All carriers in the program hold an AM Best rating of A or higher. Specific carrier options depend on group size, demographics, and case design. Carrier details are included in the Leadership Impact Report.
In some program designs, yes. Eligibility for retired members depends on the carrier, underwriting requirements, and group structure. This is addressed during the design phase.
Most programs move from design to active enrollment in four weeks or less. The timeline includes carrier selection, co-branded materials, education sessions, and enrollment support.
Hollowtree provides care coaching and claim navigation support to enrolled members. This includes help understanding policy terms, coordinating with the carrier, and connecting members with care planning resources.
Get a confidential Leadership Impact Report for your local. No obligation, no cost, no trust funding required.
