Unite Here Health

What Unite Here Health does

UNITE HERE HEALTH is a Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund (non-profit, Illinois-governed) that delivers health benefits to approximately 200,000 children and adults across the United States, all of whom are members of the UNITE HERE union or their dependents working in hospitality, food service, and gaming industries. The fund operates under a Board of Trustees with equal union and employer representation — employer trustees include Hilton, Marriott, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts, Sodexo, HMS Host, and First Hospitality. Revenue is sourced from negotiated employer and union contributions through collective bargaining agreements, distributed across 15+ regional markets (Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Monterey/Pacific Grove, Alaska, plus national Food Service and Hospitality Plans).

The core product is a multi-employer benefits platform combining comprehensive medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and HRA/FSA plans. Underlying infrastructure includes four proprietary health centers (Atlantic City, Chicago, Las Vegas Culinary Health Center, and NYC Union Health Center) offering primary care, lab, pharmacy, and specialty services at $0 copays; a wholly-owned non-profit Pharmacy Benefit Manager subsidiary called Hospitality Rx, which passes through all savings generated; and a member portal plus mobile app for 24/7 self-service. Specialized clinical partnerships include transplant and CAR-T networks through Optum and Cigna LifeSOURCE, and a free cancer care program with Penn Medicine for Atlantic City members. The organization is headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, employs 501-1,000 staff, and is led by CEO Matthew Walker (since 2012), CFO Joel VandeVusse, and General Counsel Dharma Patel, with Anna Fallieras joining as President of Aurora Plans in October 2025.

The business model is contribution-funded rather than premium-funded: employers and unions negotiate per-hour contributions that flow into the trust and are deployed against benefits paid, with governance jointly controlled by labor and management. Go-to-market is sales-led through direct relationships with local unions and employers, supplemented by walk-in fund offices in eight major cities, dedicated plan phone lines, a digital member portal, SMS communications, and a member mobile app on iOS and Android. Pricing is contract-determined and varies by plan, with tier structures (Platinum+, Gold+, Silver+) and regional network configurations (BCBS PPO, Kaiser HMO, Harvard Pilgrim, Horizon BCBS NJ, Anthem BCBS). The fund has executed seven prior fund mergers to consolidate covered lives, and its Culinary Health Fund in Las Vegas alone serves nearly 55,000 participants and 70,000 dependents.

Name

Unite Here Health

Legal name

UNITE HERE HEALTH

Website

https://uhh.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

UNITE HERE HEALTH is a non-profit Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund providing medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and specialty health benefits to approximately 200,000 UNITE HERE union members and dependents in hospitality, food service, and gaming across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Employer Health Benefits Administration

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Taft-Hartley / Union Multiemployer Group Health Plans (FSAIAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flexible Benefits Administration (FSA/HSA/HRA) (HLAEALAK), Primary Care & General Medicine Virtual Care (Employer-Sponsored) (HLALADAA)

Keywords

• Multi-employer health benefits
• Taft-hartley trust fund
• Pharmacy benefit management
• Union health insurance
• Self-funded health plans

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Brook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Health Benefit Contributions: UNITE HERE HEALTH is a Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund that provides health benefits funded through employer and union contributions. As a multi-employer trust fund governed by a Board of Trustees composed of union and employer representatives, revenue comes from negotiated health benefit contributions from employers and unions in the hospitality, food service and gaming industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UNITE HERE HEALTH is a Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund that provides comprehensive health benefit plans (medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, life, short-term disability, and HRA/FSA) to approximately 200,000 UNITE HERE union workers and their dependents in the hospitality, food service and gaming industries across 15+ U.S. regional markets. The fund operates proprietary health centers delivering primary care and ancillary services with $0 copays, and runs Hospitality Rx, its own non-profit Pharmacy Benefit Manager, to contain prescription drug costs and pass through savings to participants.

Product overview

UNITE HERE HEALTH is a multi-employer Taft-Hartley health fund providing comprehensive health benefit plans to approximately 200,000 union workers in hospitality, food service, and gaming industries across 15+ regional markets nationwide. The organization operates a platform-plus-services model combining proprietary health centers (Chicago, Atlantic City, Las Vegas Culinary Health Center, NYC Union Health Center), its own Pharmacy Benefit Manager subsidiary (Hospitality Rx), and a digital member portal and mobile app. Plans include regional sub-brands (Plan 102 Atlantic City Casinos, Plan 178 Los Angeles, Plan 376 Food Service Plan, Plan 100/105 New York, Plan 173 UNITE HERE Staff Plan, and Midwest plans 114/115/116/345/175) offering medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and HRA benefits. Specialized offerings include transplant and CAR-T networks, Penn Cancer Program, and retiree HRA accounts. The fund is governed by a Board of Trustees with both union and employer representation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multi-Regional Taft-Hartley Health Benefit Plans Comprehensive multi-employer health benefit plans providing medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and HRA/FSA benefits to approximately 200,000 UNITE HERE union workers and their dependents in hospitality, food service and gaming industries across 15+ U.S. regional markets.
• Hospitality Rx (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) Proprietary Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) subsidiary of UNITE HERE HEALTH that provides transparent pharmacy benefit management, passes through all savings generated and operates as a non-profit provider eliminating profit-driven conflicts of interest.
• UHH Member Portal and Mobile App 24/7 self-service digital platform providing access to health benefits, eligibility, claim status, ID cards, address changes and electronic communication preferences for UNITE HERE HEALTH members, available via ww2.uniteherehealth.org and iOS/Android mobile apps.
• Atlantic City Health Center Proprietary health center at 1801 Atlantic Ave providing primary care, mental health, podiatry, physical therapy, labs, x-rays, ultrasounds, and pharmacy with $0 copays for eligible Local 54 UNITE HERE union members and dependents.
• Chicago Health Center Proprietary health center at 218 S. Wabash Ave., 4th floor, Chicago, providing primary care, lab services and free prescriptions to eligible Local 1 and 450 UNITE HERE union members and their adult dependents, with health promoter support for chronic conditions.
• Culinary Health Center (Las Vegas) Las Vegas Culinary Health Center providing healthcare benefits to nearly 55,000 participants and their 70,000 dependents, including primary care and two Culinary pharmacies operated under the Culinary Health Fund.
• Union Health Center (New York City) Proprietary health center providing free primary care and specialist services for UNITE HERE union members and eligible family members in Manhattan, with over 30 doctors and specialists and $0 copays, plus additional locations across NYC boroughs and Long Island.
• Transplant and CAR-T Therapy Network Fund-designated specialty network providing access to top-quality transplant and CAR-T therapy providers nationwide through Optum and Cigna LifeSOURCE partnerships, including adult and pediatric Centers of Excellence and CAR-T/Cellular Immunotherapy preferred providers.
• Penn Cancer Program Free comprehensive cancer care partnership with Penn Medicine Cancer Care team (ranked #10 in U.S.) for adult Atlantic City Health Center members, covering treatment for cancers and blood diseases, local primary care coordination, health promotion support, and free transportation.
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Program Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) providing $65/month contributions to eligible 102 Retirees via WEX debit card, covering prescription drug costs, copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and Medicare Part C or D premiums.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 200,000 children and adults across the nation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and flagship.

• Hilton WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHilton Worldwide is represented on the Board of Trustees by Paul Ades, Senior VP Labor Relations. As an employer trustee, Hilton participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.
• Marriott InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarriott International is represented on the Board of Trustees by George Greene, Vice President Labor Relations. As an employer trustee, Marriott participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.
• Caesars EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaesars Entertainment is represented on the Board of Trustees by Stephanie Lepori, Chief Administrative & Accounting Officer. As an employer trustee, Caesars participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.
• MGM Resorts InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGM Resorts International is represented on the Board of Trustees by Matt Morrison, VP Compensation & HR Analytics. As an employer trustee, MGM participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.
• Wynn ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWynn Resorts is represented on the Board of Trustees by Susie McDaniel, EVP of HR Wynn North America. As an employer trustee, Wynn participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New JerseycoreTechnology or IntegrationHorizon BCBS of NJ is the network provider for Atlantic City plans, providing access to in-network doctors and behavioral health services.
• Davis VisionstandardTechnology or IntegrationDavis Vision is the vision provider for Atlantic City plans, providing in-network eye doctor access.
• BeneCarestandardTechnology or IntegrationBeneCare is the dental network provider for Atlantic City plans, providing in-network dentist access.
• OptumcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptum provides the Fund's transplant and CAR-T network, including adult and pediatric transplant Centers of Excellence and CAR-T/Cellular Immunotherapy Preferred Provider Network.
• Cigna LifeSOURCEcoreTechnology or IntegrationCigna LifeSOURCE provides the Fund's transplant and CAR-T network, including adult/pediatric transplant and CAR-T services.
• Penn MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn Medicine's Cancer Care team, ranked #10 in the U.S. for cancer care (U.S. News & World Report, July 2025), partners with the Atlantic City Health Center to provide free, expert cancer care to eligible members and their families.
• Harvard PilgrimcoreTechnology or IntegrationHarvard Pilgrim is the network provider for Boston Area Plan 108, providing access to primary care, specialists, and health services through their network.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreTechnology or IntegrationKaiser Permanente provides HMO plans for Food Service Plan members in DC/Baltimore, Northern California, Southern California, Colorado, Georgia, and Hawaii regions.
• Blue Cross Blue ShieldcoreTechnology or IntegrationBlue Cross Blue Shield provides PPO network for Food Service Plan members nationally, with options including BlueCard PPO/EPO.
• Delta DentalstandardTechnology or IntegrationDelta Dental provides dental coverage options including Delta Dental PPO and DeltaCare HMO for Food Service Plan members.
• Hospitality Rx (Subsidiary)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationHospitality Rx is a non-profit subsidiary of UNITE HERE HEALTH that provides Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) services with transparency in cost and passing through all savings generated. It manages pharmacy benefits across multiple plan regions.
• SodexocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSodexo is represented on the Board of Trustees by Harold Taegel, Senior Director Labor Relations. As an employer trustee, Sodexo participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.
• HMS HostcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMS Host is represented on the Board of Trustees by Laura FitzRandolph, Chief Human Resources Officer. As an employer trustee, HMS Host participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.
• First HospitalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Hospitality is represented on the Board of Trustees by Christine Andrews, VP of People. As an employer trustee, First Hospitality participates in governance of the Taft-Hartley labor management trust fund.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Optum (UnitedHealth Group): Healthcare services subsidiary of UnitedHealth that provides transplant and CAR-T network access to UHH members and employs UHH's new Aurora Plans President (Anna Fallieras) in a prior role. Ecosystem partner for specialty care and a potential model for vertically integrated payer-services operations.
• Kaiser Permanente: Integrated payer-provider that serves as an HMO network partner for UHH's Food Service Plan in multiple states. Comparable in operating owned care delivery with integrated pharmacy, but as a commercial health plan and provider system rather than a Taft-Hartley fund.

Direct peers

• 1199SEIU National Benefit Fund: Large multi-employer Taft-Hartley welfare fund providing health benefits to SEIU 1199 healthcare workers across the U.S. Most direct comparable to UHH in structure, governance, and benefit design — both are union-sponsored, multi-employer health funds with employer/union trustee governance.
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters — Central States Health & Welfare Fund: One of the largest Taft-Hartley health and welfare funds in the U.S., serving Teamsters members across multiple states. Directly comparable in scale, multi-employer structure, and the challenge of managing healthcare costs for a unionized industrial workforce.
• Painters & Allied Trades Labor Management Cooperation Initiative: Labor-management health and welfare structure for painters' union members. Comparable Taft-Hartley multi-employer model though smaller in scale than UHH.
• Carpenters Health & Welfare Trust Fund: Multi-employer health fund for union carpenters and related trades. Same Taft-Hartley architecture; differs in industry (construction vs. hospitality) but directly comparable in governance, contribution model, and participant services.
• IATSE National Health & Welfare Plan: Taft-Hartley welfare fund for stagecraft and entertainment technicians. Smaller in scale than UHH but operates with the same multi-employer trust fund structure and serves entertainment/hospitality-adjacent workers.
• SAG-AFTRA Health Plan: Taft-Hartley health plan for entertainment industry union members with similarly cyclical employment patterns and geographic concentration. Comparable in operating multiple regional plan units and managing eligibility for project-based workers.
• IUOE National Health & Welfare Fund: Operating Engineers' multi-employer health and welfare fund providing benefits to construction industry union workers. Comparable Taft-Hartley structure with employer/union trustee governance serving a different industry vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: Dominant commercial health insurer whose regional licensees (Horizon BCBS NJ, Anthem, BCBS national networks) provide the PPO/EPO backbone for most of UHH's regional plans. A broad incumbent partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UniteHereHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unite-here-health
• Xx.com/uniteherehealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unite Here Health