U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund

What U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund does

U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund (legal name: United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds) is a multi-employer Taft-Hartley benefit trust established in 1946 through a White House-negotiated contract between the United Mine Workers of America and the U.S. Government. The Funds administers a portfolio of health and pension plans — including the UMWA 1974 Pension Plan, UMWA 1993 Benefit Plan, UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan, Combined Benefit Fund, Prefunded Benefit Plan, and the Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988 (a 401(k) recordkept by Empower Retirement) — for over 70,000 beneficiaries consisting of retired bituminous coal miners, their eligible dependents, disabled mine workers, and surviving spouses. Eligibility is anchored to employment with coal operators signatory to the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement (NBCWA), and contributions from those operators fund the benefits stack.

The Funds operates a conventional benefits-administration technology stack: a General Self Service (GSS) online portal for provider eligibility and claims inquiry, a CDSP electronic submission website for employer remittance, electronic claims submission via Payor ID 52180, and electronic provider payments through ECHO Health. Prescription drug benefits are routed through CVS Caremark's network of 64,000+ retail pharmacies plus mail and specialty pharmacy. The Funds also administers Medicare Part B for eligible beneficiaries under a Health Care Prepayment Plan arrangement with CMS, and runs field health programs staffed by nurses, social workers, and in-field representatives across offices in Washington D.C., Beckley, Nashville, Eagan, Alabama, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.

The revenue model is employer contributions under the NBCWA, supplemented by plan-level copays (e.g., $5 physician visits in the Combined Benefit Fund and 1992 Plan). Distribution is through a contracted provider network of approximately 23,000 Cooperating Funds Providers, a CVS Caremark pharmacy network, and a Hold Harmless Program that protects beneficiaries from balance billing. The Funds is governed by a joint Board of Trustees representing the UMWA and contributing employers and is not investor-owned; it is not a target for conventional PE/VC investment but rather a long-dated institutional benefit trust.

Name

U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund

Legal name

United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds

Website

https://umwafunds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund is a multi-employer Taft-Hartley benefit trust administering health, pension, and 401(k) plans for over 70,000 retired bituminous coal miners and their eligible dependents, funded by NBCWA-signatory coal operator contributions and delivered through CVS Caremark and a contracted provider network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Employer Health and Pension Benefit Fund

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Pension Funds (525110), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Self-Funded (ASO) Group Health Plans & Stop-Loss (FSAIAFAB), Large Group Health Insurance (Mid-Market & National Accounts) (FSAIAFAE), Taft-Hartley / Labor Union & Public Sector Retirement Systems (FSAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Multi-employer health benefits
• Pension plan administration
• Retiree health insurance
• Taft-Hartley benefit fund
• Pharmacy benefit management

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Employer Contributions: The Funds receives contributions from bituminous coal operators who are signatories to the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement (NBCWA). Employers contribute based on hours worked by classified employees. Contributions fund both health benefits and pension plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund is a multi-employer Taft-Hartley benefit fund that administers health insurance coverage and pension benefits for retired bituminous coal miners and their eligible dependents. The Fund provides comprehensive medical, prescription drug, vision, hearing, and skilled nursing benefits alongside defined benefit pension plans and a 401(k) defined contribution plan, funded through negotiated employer contributions under the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement (NBCWA). Benefits are delivered through a network of approximately 23,000 cooperating providers, over 64,000 retail pharmacies via CVS Caremark, and field health programs across coal-producing regions.

Product overview

U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund is a multi-employer benefits organization administering a portfolio of pension and health benefit plans for retired coal miners and their eligible dependents. The core product portfolio includes pension plans (UMWA 1974 Pension Plan, UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan) and health benefit plans (UMWA 1993 Benefit Plan, Combined Benefit Fund, Prefunded Benefit Plan), supplemented by a defined contribution 401(k) plan (Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988). Health benefits are delivered through integrated modules covering medical, prescription drug (via CVS Caremark), vision, and specialized programs including transportation, hearing aids, and the Hold Harmless balance billing protection. The organization acts as a Medicare Part B payer under special CMS arrangement. Field health programs provide in-person support to beneficiaries in coalfield communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UMWA 1974 Pension Plan A defined benefit pension plan providing retirement (service) pensions, disability pensions, and surviving spouse pensions for eligible mineworkers from signatory bituminous coal operators.
• UMWA 1993 Benefit Plan Health benefit plan for retired coal miners and eligible dependents, offering multiple program options including Traditional, Alternate, Individual Employer, UMWA Program, and Post-Legislative Programs of Benefits.
• Combined Benefit Fund Multi-employer health benefit plan providing coverage to eligible retirees and dependents under a consolidated benefit structure.
• Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988 (CDSP) Defined contribution 401(k) plan allowing eligible coal miners to defer a portion of compensation through payroll deductions, administered by Empower Retirement.
• Prefunded Benefit Plan
• UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan
• Prescription Drug Plan Benefits
• Medical Plans Benefits
• Vision Benefit Plan
• Medicare Part B Administration
• Hold Harmless Program
• Field Health Programs
• Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
• Grievances and Appeals Process

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70,000 beneficiaries receive health and pension benefits through the multi-employer plan

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Empower (Plan Record Keeper)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 1988Empower serves as the Plan Record Keeper for the UMWA Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988, managing participant accounts, enrollment, and retirement savings administration. Located at 8515 E. Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
• CVS Caremark (Pharmacy Benefit Processor)coreTechnology or IntegrationCVS Caremark processes prescription drug benefits for Funds beneficiaries, providing access to over 64,000 retail pharmacies and mail service pharmacy. Also provides specialty pharmacy services through CVS Specialty.
• CVS Specialty PharmacycoreTechnology or IntegrationSpecialty pharmacy program for long-term illnesses including cancer, Crohn's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Multiple Sclerosis with specialized dosing and monitoring.
• ECHO (Electronic Payment)coreTechnology or IntegrationECHO Health Inc. provides electronic payment services for claims payments to healthcare providers through the Funds.
• Bituminous Coal Operators' Association (BCOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCOA negotiates with UMWA on employee benefits for coal miners through periodic National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreements (NBCWA), establishing contribution requirements for health and pension benefits.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Funds operates as a Medicare Health Care Prepayment Plan (HCPP), processing and paying Medicare Part B benefits for eligible beneficiaries under special arrangement with CMS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Empower Retirement: U.S. defined contribution plan recordkeeper and currently the recordkeeper for UMWA's CDSP 401(k). Comparable as a retirement plan administrator serving multi-employer and employer-sponsored plan markets.
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC): Federal agency that insures multi-employer defined benefit pensions. Relevant as the systemic backstop for UMWA Funds' 1974 Pension Plan and as a regulatory counterparty whose policy posture materially impacts the Funds' risk profile.

Broad incumbents

• UnitedHealth Group (UnitedHealthcare): Largest U.S. health insurer with deep employer-sponsored large group offerings and Optum administrative services. Comparable in member scale, network breadth (note: Optum already administers UMWA claims), and integrated admin-plus-PBM capabilities.
• Elevance Health (Anthem): Major national health insurer offering large group fully-insured and ASO products, with affiliated PBM (CarelonRx). Comparable in scale and product mix for employer-sponsored group health, though a for-profit commercial carrier versus UMWA's trust structure.
• The Cigna Group: Major national health carrier with large group employer-sponsored stop-loss and ASO capabilities (via Evernorth). Comparable in providing fully-insured and self-funded group products with specialty pharmacy and PBM-adjacent services.
• CVS Health (Aetna): Integrated payer-PBM-retailer already a core vendor (CVS Caremark) for UMWA Funds' prescription benefit. Comparable as a vertically integrated health plan + PBM combination serving large employer-sponsored populations.
• Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC): Large mutual BCBS licensee serving large/mid-market employer groups with administrative services, PBM, and stop-loss capabilities. Comparable as a large group health plan administrator with similar self-funded/ASO options and provider network scale.

Direct peers

• BeneSys: TPA specialized in administering multi-employer health and welfare benefit funds for labor unions and employer associations. Operates in the same regulatory and operational niche as UMWA Funds' self-administration model.
• Zenith American Solutions: Third-party administrator that administers Taft-Hartley multi-employer health and welfare funds on behalf of unions and employers. Directly comparable to UMWA Funds in serving collectively bargained multi-employer trust structures.

Emerging players

• TIAA: Pension and retirement administrator serving institutional and multi-employer clients including nonprofit, healthcare, and academic sectors. Comparable in administering retirement benefits at scale with a fiduciary, mission-aligned posture similar to UMWA Funds.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 U.M.W.A. Health Retirement Fund