asrTrust (Auto Sector Retiree Health Care Trust)

What asrTrust (Auto Sector Retiree Health Care Trust) does

asrTrust is a Canadian Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) established in 2011 to provide comprehensive lifetime health care benefits to former CAW/Unifor union retirees of Chrysler Canada Inc. (CCI) and General Motors of Canada Ltd. (GM), along with their spouses and dependents. Eligible members are those hired before May 4, 2009, who were entitled to a pension at retirement, with coverage extending to surviving spouses for life. The trust was created as a direct outcome of the 2008-2009 North American automotive industry crisis, when government bailouts of GM and Chrysler were conditioned on removing retiree health benefits — a concession the union refused. asrTrust became the first ELHT in Canada, a structure that required the Federal Government to change tax regulations to permit it, and the entity is also known bilingually as FIDUCIErsa.\n\nThe trust operates as a benefit administration entity rather than a technology or product company, and does not develop proprietary technology. Core operations are delegated to GreenShield, which serves as the third-party administrator for claims processing, formulary management, the member portal (greenshield.ca), mobile app, and customer service. The internal team is limited to 2 full-time and 2 part-time staff — a Chief Executive Officer, Head of Operations & Member Solutions, a part-time CFO on contract, and a part-time Executive Assistant — who coordinate with the Board of Trustees, GreenShield, and external advisors. Additional service partners include Bayshore HealthCare (Carepath) for chronic disease, cancer, and elder care case management; SE Health for in-home nursing and Personal Support Worker assessments; and Ontario Health atHome for long-term care placement in Ontario.\n\nasrTrust was capitalized through one-time contributions of approximately $1.2 billion from CCI and approximately $2 billion from GM in 2009, totaling roughly $3.2 billion. There are no ongoing member premiums or revenue streams; the trust invests plan assets to generate returns that fund benefits over multiple decades. Coverage includes 100% prescription drug reimbursement on the formulary, dental ($6,000/year), vision, hearing aids, paramedical services, travel insurance, in-home nursing (up to $100,000/year), long-term care ($2,000/month for CCI), hospital coverage, a Health Care Spending Account ($500-$1,000/year), medical cannabis ($2,500/year), and cancer screening. Governance rests with a 10-member Board of Trustees — 5 appointed by the President of Unifor and 5 independent trustees — and the trust operates bilingually in English and French.

Name

asrTrust (Auto Sector Retiree Health Care Trust)

Legal name

The Auto Sector Retiree Health Care Trust (asrTrust)

Website

https://asrtrust.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

asrTrust is a Canadian Employee Life and Health Trust providing comprehensive lifetime health benefits to CAW/Unifor retirees of Chrysler Canada Inc. and General Motors of Canada Ltd. hired before May 4, 2009. The trust was funded by $3.2 billion in one-time contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retiree Health Benefits Trust

NAICS

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

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro primary industry

Self-Funded (ASO) Group Health Plans & Stop-Loss (FSAIAFAB)

Keywords

• Retiree health benefits
• Employee health trust
• Health care benefits plan
• Benefits administration
• Trust fund management

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Trust Fund Management: asrTrust generates no traditional revenue. It was established in 2011 with one-time funding from plan sponsors: approximately $1.2 billion from Chrysler Canada Inc. and approximately $2 billion from General Motors of Canada Ltd. The trust manages two separate trust accounts (CCI and GM) and invests the money to provide sustainable health benefits to eligible retirees for multiple decades. Operating expenses are kept low to ensure plan sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

asrTrust is an Employee Life and Health Trust (ELHT) that designs and manages comprehensive lifetime retiree health care benefits plans for former CAW/Unifor union retirees of Chrysler Canada Inc. and General Motors of Canada Ltd. The trust invests approximately $3.2 billion across two separate accounts (~$1.2B CCI and ~$2B GM) to deliver prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, paramedical services, travel coverage, medical equipment, in-home nursing, long-term care, hospital coverage, and a Health Care Spending Account. All claims administration, member portal access, and customer service are delivered through third-party partner GreenShield.

Product overview

asrTrust is a single, unified retiree health care benefits plan — not a modular platform — offering comprehensive health coverage to eligible CAW/Unifor union retirees of Chrysler Canada Inc. and General Motors of Canada Ltd. The plan bundles multiple benefit categories under one umbrella, including prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, travel, hospital, medical equipment, in-home nursing, long-term care, and paramedical services. Each retiree group (CCI vs GM) has its own separate plan with slightly different benefit structures, but both share the same administrative infrastructure through GreenShield for claims processing and member portal access. Key sub-products include the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) for supplemental expenses, travel coverage with 24/7 emergency assistance, and specialized benefits like medical cannabis and prostate/cancer screening. The plan does not operate as a software platform with modules but rather as an insurance trust that coordinates care through third-party providers including GreenShield, SE Health, Bayshore Carepath, and various provincial health systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• asrTrust Retiree Health Care Benefits Plan A comprehensive retiree health care benefits plan providing lifetime coverage for prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, travel, hospital, medical equipment, paramedical services, in-home nursing, long-term care, and a Health Care Spending Account to eligible CAW/Unifor union retirees of Chrysler Canada Inc. and General Motors of Canada Ltd., and their spouses and dependents.
• Prescription Drug Coverage 100% coverage for prescription drugs on the GreenShield-managed formulary, including brand-name and generic drug reimbursement, prior authorization for certain medications, and coordination with Ontario Drug Benefit for eligible Ontario residents aged 65+.
• Dental Coverage 100% coverage of provincial dental guide fees up to $6,000 per calendar year, including routine exams, cleanings, X-rays, extractions, crowns, bridges, dentures, and orthodontics (up to $3,600 lifetime for dependent children under 21).
• Vision Care Coverage including eye exams (up to $140 every 24 months), prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses (up to $350 every 24 months), laser eye surgery (up to $350 lifetime), and cataract care including IOL Master biometry and post-surgery eye drops.
• Hearing Aid Coverage 100% coverage up to reasonable and customary limits every 36 months, including hearing aid purchase, ear molds, and necessary repairs.
• Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) A supplemental spending account providing $500 per individual or $1,000 per family per year (January 1 to December 31) to cover out-of-pocket health expenses not fully reimbursed by the plan, including paramedical costs exceeding coverage limits. Unused credits carry over to the next year but expire December 31 of the second year.
• Travel Coverage Emergency travel insurance covering hospital, surgical, and medical emergency expenses, emergency ground/air ambulance, and repatriation when traveling outside the member's province, with 24/7 GreenShield Travel Assistance for pre-trip advice and emergency coordination.
• Medical Equipment and Nutritional Supplements Coverage for diabetic equipment (glucose monitors up to $4,000/year, insulin pumps up to $1,000 every five years), compression stockings (up to $800/year), custom orthotics and orthopedic shoes ($750/year), and nutritional supplements (220 portions or $500/year for eligible conditions).
• In-Home Nursing and Personal Support Workers (PSW) 100% coverage up to $100,000 per year for registered nurses and certified PSWs, coordinated through GreenShield and SE Health. Includes nursing assessments, care coordination with government programs, and ongoing reassessment of care needs.
• Long-Term Care Facility Coverage Monthly coverage of up to $2,000 for eligible long-term care facility stays, supplementing provincial costs (Ontario maximum is $2,085.37/month for basic rooms as of July 1, 2025). Members apply through provincial health authorities such as Ontario Health atHome.
• Hospital Coverage Supplementary hospital coverage for semi-private rooms in rehabilitation settings (up to $200/day) and chronic/alternative level of care settings (up to $30/day), plus co-payment coverage up to $60/day for chronic/ALC beds. Does not cover room upgrades during acute care hospital stays.
• Paramedical Provider Coverage Coverage for paramedical practitioners including physiotherapists (up to $1,500/year), chiropractors, registered massage therapists, mental health practitioners (up to $750/year), podiatrists/chiropodists, dietitians, naturopaths (up to $500/year), and speech-language pathologists (up to $1,100/year).
• Prostate and Cancer Test Coverage Coverage for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests ($15/year for men 50+) and Cancer Antigen CA-125 tests (100% coverage, one per year) for cancer screening and monitoring.
• Medical Cannabis Coverage 100% coverage up to $2,500 per calendar year for medical cannabis with a valid prescription. Requires prior authorization and a trial of other treatments first, subject to Health Canada regulations including a 30-day supply maximum of 150 grams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prescription drug coverage: 100% for formulary drugs, $2.5M+ annually reimbursed
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• GreenShieldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2011GreenShield is the third-party administrator that processes all claims and manages the formulary for prescription drugs. They maintain a fully staffed call centre and serve as the primary contact for members regarding benefits, coverage, and claims. GreenShield provides the online member portal, mobile app, and direct contact services including claims submission, eligibility verification, and benefit card access.
• Bayshore HealthCare (Carepath)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayshore's Carepath programs are available to connect members to Nurse Case Managers for chronic disease support, cancer management support, and elder care support. Carepath provides personalized health navigation services to help members manage complex health situations.
• UniforcoreOthersasrTrust was established through the negotiations of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW)/Unifor union to preserve retiree benefits when the automotive industry faced crisis in 2008-2009. Five Trustees are appointed by the President of Unifor to the Board of Trustees. The union's determination led to federal government changing tax regulations to allow for ELHTs.
• SE HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSE Health provides registered nurses who contact members to complete assessments for Personal Support Worker (PSW) care, either in-home or virtually. The SE Health nurse helps coordinate with government and community services and regularly reassesses care needs. Available for CCI members referred for PSW services through GreenShield.
• Ontario Health atHomesupportingOthersOntario Health atHome conducts assessments for long-term care placement in Ontario. Members apply through this provincial program for long-term care home admission. In other provinces, local health authorities or provincial programs serve similar functions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Blue Cross: Pacific Blue Cross is a Canadian not-for-profit benefits provider administering health, dental, and disability plans across British Columbia. It is directly comparable to asrTrust as a mission-driven Canadian organization administering group health benefits for member populations under a mutual/trust-like structure.
• GreenShield Canada: GreenShield is asrTrust's third-party administrator and one of Canada's largest health benefits providers, administering drug, dental, and extended health benefits for millions of Canadians. It is directly comparable as both a peer in Canadian health benefits administration and the operational backbone for asrTrust's plan delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Canada Life: Canada Life is a major Canadian life and health insurer offering group benefits, retirement, and individual insurance products. It serves similar employer-sponsored and retiree health plan markets in Canada, making it a broad incumbent comparable to asrTrust's group health plan administration role.
• Co-operators: Co-operators is a Canadian cooperative insurer offering group benefits and retirement products to Canadian employers and members. Comparable to asrTrust as a Canadian organization delivering group health benefits with a member-oriented governance approach.
• Desjardins Group: Desjardins is a major Quebec-based financial cooperative with group insurance and retirement operations. It serves Canadian employers and members with group health and dental benefits, making it a comparable broad incumbent in the Canadian group benefits market.
• Manulife Financial: Manulife is a major Canadian insurer with extensive group benefits and group retirement operations serving employers and retirees across Canada. Comparable to asrTrust as a large-scale provider of group health benefits to Canadian plan members, though operating across a much broader portfolio.
• Sun Life Financial: Sun Life is one of Canada's largest insurers offering group benefits, group retirement, and individual life and health insurance. It serves similar Canadian employer and retiree markets with self-funded and insured group health plans, making it a broad incumbent peer in the Canadian group benefits space.
• Industrial Alliance (iA Financial Group): iA Financial Group is a Canadian insurer with significant group benefits and retirement operations. It serves employer-sponsored plans across Canada including health, dental, and disability coverage, making it comparable to asrTrust's role administering group health benefits for Canadian plan members.
• OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System): OMERS is one of Canada's largest pension funds providing retirement benefits including pension and ancillary health benefits to Ontario municipal employees and retirees. Comparable to asrTrust as a large Canadian trust/fund entity providing retirement benefits to a defined member population.

Regional players

• Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP): HOOPP is a Canadian defined benefit pension plan providing retirement benefits to Ontario healthcare workers. Comparable to asrTrust as a trust-structured Canadian organization providing defined retirement benefits to a specific employee/retiree population through pooled fund management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auto-sector-retiree-health-care-trust

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 asrTrust (Auto Sector Retiree Health Care Trust)