MIDWEST EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS COALITION INC

What MIDWEST EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS COALITION INC does

Midwest Employee Benefit Funds Coalition, Inc. (MEBFC) is a nonprofit member-owned coalition incorporated on January 26, 1995, and headquartered in Countryside, Illinois. It was established out of meetings organized by the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) to negotiate reduced-rate services with healthcare providers for collectively bargained, multi-employer Taft-Hartley Welfare Funds in the Midwest region. MEBFC currently consists of 52 member funds covering approximately 350,000 employees, dependents, and retirees, primarily across the construction and trade union industry in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.

MEBFC's core offering is a portfolio of negotiated exclusive and endorsed provider agreements rather than a proprietary technology platform. Exclusive providers include BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois (medical PPO), Delta Dental (dental PPO), Optum Rx (prescription), Absolute Solutions (diagnostic imaging), Carrot (women's health/family-building), and a cancer navigator service. Endorsed providers include EyeMed (vision), EPIC Hearing Healthcare (hearing aids), and Employee Resource Systems (EAP for mental health, legal, financial, and work-life services). The coalition also facilitates cybersecurity/risk management compliance with DOL guidelines. Members can opt into any contract individually — trustees retain full autonomy — and MEBFC's role is screening, RFP support, and rate negotiation.

The organization is funded entirely through annual membership dues calculated at $2.00 per average member per fund, with a $2,500 minimum and $15,000 maximum. It is governed by a Board of Trustees drawn from member funds, with quarterly Board meetings and an annual meeting. Operations are led by Executive Director Jennifer Gamberale and Manager Jessica Boyette. The coalition does not sell to individual consumers or employers; its customers are exclusively other Taft-Hartley Welfare Funds that join via paperwork approved by the Board.

Name

MIDWEST EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS COALITION INC

Legal name

Midwest Employee Benefit Funds Coalition, Inc.

Website

https://mebfc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MEBFC is a nonprofit Midwest coalition of 52 Taft-Hartley Welfare Funds that negotiates collective healthcare contracts — medical, dental, vision, prescription, hearing, EAP, and related benefits — on behalf of approximately 350,000 covered lives in construction and trade unions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Countryside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Dues: The coalition charges annual membership dues based on the average number of members in each fund. Dues are $2.00 per eligible member per year with a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $15,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MEBFC is a member-driven coalition that negotiates exclusive and endorsed provider agreements with healthcare and benefits vendors (medical, dental, prescription, diagnostic imaging, vision, hearing, EAP, women's health, cancer navigation, and cybersecurity) on behalf of 52 multi-employer Taft-Hartley Welfare Funds. The coalition leverages the collective purchasing power of approximately 350,000 covered lives to secure market-leading rates, and provides vendor screening, RFP process support, and peer networking opportunities to its member fund administrators.

Product overview

The Midwest Employee Benefit Funds Coalition (MEBFC) is a coalition of Taft-Hartley Welfare Funds that negotiates collective purchasing agreements with healthcare providers. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather provides access to a portfolio of healthcare benefit programs including: Medical PPO Network (BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois), Dental (Delta Dental PPO), Prescription (Optum Rx), Diagnostic Imaging (Absolute Solutions), Women's Health (Carrot), Cancer Navigator, Hearing Benefits (EPIC), Vision Benefits (EyeMed), Employee Assistance Program (ERS), and Cybersecurity/Risk Management. These services are structured as Exclusive Providers (core negotiated benefits) and Endorsed Providers (supplementary benefits) available to member funds representing approximately 350,000 covered lives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical PPO Network Preferred Provider Organization network through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois offering exclusive lower cost access fees for member Taft-Hartley Welfare Funds.
• Cybersecurity and Risk Management Vendor compliance services aligned with DOL guidelines for cybersecurity and risk management for member welfare funds.
• Dental Benefits Dental coverage through the Delta Dental PPO network providing exclusive pricing on administration fees and average 30% savings on dental procedures, with Delta Dental Premier as a safety net.
• Diagnostic Imaging Radiology benefit management through Absolute Solutions for MRI, CT, and PET scans with preferred contracted rates, $0 out-of-pocket for covered members, and approximately $500 savings per referral.
• Prescription Benefits Pharmacy benefit management through Optum Rx providing exclusive lower pricing across a large network of pharmacies, drug price lookup, home delivery, and order tracking.
• Women's Health and Family Building Fertility and family-building support through Carrot providing personalized care, expert guidance, and global reach for members' healthcare journeys.
• Cancer Navigator Cancer care navigation services providing expert guidance through the cancer treatment journey for member funds.
• Hearing Benefits Hearing healthcare coverage through EPIC Hearing Healthcare with savings between 50% and 80% off standard industry pricing for hearing aids and related services.
• Vision Benefits Managed vision care through EyeMed offering customizable high-quality vision benefits at competitive costs for member funds.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Mental health and well-being benefits through Employee Resource Systems (ERS) including counseling, life coaching, legal and financial consultation, work-life referrals, and medical advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Member funds saved over $6.4 million in 2025 through diagnostic imaging program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and foundational.

• BlueCross BlueShield of IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlueCross BlueShield of Illinois is the preferred medical provider for MEBFC. They provide PPO network access and medical benefits for member funds through negotiated rates.
• Delta DentalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta Dental PPO network is the exclusive dental provider for MEBFC. Members save approximately 30% on dental procedures compared to standard fees through the PPO network. Delta Dental Premier serves as a safety net network.
• Optum RxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptum Rx provides prescription pharmacy services to MEBFC members through their pharmacy benefit management platform. Members can check drug prices, order home delivery, track orders, and access pharmacy network information.
• EyeMed Vision CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEyeMed is the endorsed vision care provider, serving nearly 6.1 million members nationally. They provide managed vision care services with plans suitable for funds with or without existing vision coverage.
• EPIC Hearing HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPIC Hearing Healthcare is the endorsed hearing benefits provider, offering savings between 50%-80% off standard industry pricing for hearing aids and related services.
• Employee Resource Systems (ERS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerERS provides Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services including mental health counseling, life coaching, legal and financial consultation, work-life referrals, personal assistant referrals, and medical advocacy. They offer free monthly webinars and newsletters.
• Absolute SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsolute Solutions provides radiology benefit management for MRI, CT, and PET scans. They have 100+ centers in Illinois and 3,600 nationwide. Member funds saved over $6.4 million in 2025 through this program, with approximately $500 savings per referral and $0 out-of-pocket for covered members.
• Cancer NavigatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCancer Navigator provides comprehensive fertility and family-building support with global reach, personalized care, and expert guidance for members' healthcare journeys.
• CarrotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarrot provides comprehensive fertility and family-building support with global reach, personalized care, and expert guidance for every journey. Partnership provides MEBFC members access to Carrot's services.
• Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO)foundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISCO organized the series of meetings that led to MEBFC's founding. MEBFC was incorporated on January 26, 1995 following meetings organized by CISCO.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Allied Benefit Systems: Third-party administrator for health and welfare benefits with a significant Taft-Hartley and multiemployer plan book of business. Comparable service model for construction and trade union welfare funds, though it operates as a commercial TPA rather than a member-owned coalition.
• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP): Nonprofit educational association serving benefits professionals and multiemployer plan trustees, including Taft-Hartley funds. Directly comparable mission of supporting benefit fund administrators, though it operates nationally and focuses on education and credentialing rather than collective purchasing.
• BeneSys, Inc. Third-party administrator focused on multiemployer Taft-Hartley benefit plans. Directly comparable in target customer base (multiemployer welfare funds) and service focus, though it competes as a commercial administrator rather than a member-driven purchasing coalition.

Others

• Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO): Founding partner of MEBFC, organized the meetings that led to MEBFC's 1995 incorporation. Related mission of supporting the Midwest construction industry, but provides different services (apprenticeship, training, labor-management cooperation) rather than healthcare benefit administration.

Broad incumbents

• National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP): National advocacy organization for multiemployer plans. Comparable as a multiemployer plan industry organization with similar member base, but focused on federal policy advocacy rather than purchasing coalition services for member funds.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwest-employee-benefit-funds-coalition-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MIDWEST EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS COALITION INC