Ask the Expert:
What should workers know about maintaining their health benefits during a strike?
We asked Brett Wilkinson, President and Chief Sales Officer at ClaimChoice Administrators, a third-party administration company specializing in flexible self-funded health plan options. He has spent nearly 30 years in the health benefits world, and while he knows health insurance isn’t exactly a happy hour conversation, it is one of those things you’re glad to understand when life throws a curveball.
Take strikes, for example. When it comes to keeping your health coverage during a walkout, you’ve got more options than you might think. It can be a stressful time with difficult decisions, but you don’t need to have all the answers on your own. You just need to know where to look, who to call, and what steps to take early.
At ClaimChoice, we’re proud to support union members across the country and provide alternatives for health benefits during labor disputes. We are thoroughly versed in what it takes to handle benefits for union groups, with one of our team members even having first-hand experience serving on a union executive board. This Men’s Health Month, we’re answering your questions and walking through what you can do right now to stay healthy, covered, and in control.
Here are 5 ways to maintain your health & coverage:
1. Start With Your Union Contract
Before anything else, review your union contract or reach out to your benefitsadministrator. Some contracts include specific provisions that continue healthcare coverage during a strike. Other contracts may pause your benefits or require a different process to stay enrolled. Don’t assume. You need to know exactly what your plan provides.
2. Know Your COBRA Options
If your health coverage ends during a strike, COBRA may be your lifeline. It’s not the cheapest option, but it gives you the ability to continue your existing health plan by paying the full premium yourself.
Pro tip: Check with your union representative to see if strike funds or hardship grants are available to help you cover any critical expenses, including COBRA premiums.
3. Consider Short-Term Alternatives
If COBRA isn’t financially realistic, you may have other options. There are low-cost, temporary coverages that still give you access to essentials like telehealth visits, urgent care, and prescription savings.
Some unions also coordinate their own strike support funds or offer temporary benefits through a local plan. Whatever the route, the key is to act quickly so you’re not caught off guard if something unexpected happens.
4. Don’t Skip Your Medications
When money’s tight or stress is high, it’s easy to push your health (men especially) to the back burner. You miss refills, skip appointments, or hope a nagging issue will go away on its own. But skipping blood pressure meds, diabetes management, cholesterol prescriptions, or mental health treatments is never the answer. Those medications are essential.
Pro tip: You can easily access free discount cards for prescriptions. For example, ChoiceScripts.com offers an Rx Discount Card program that offers savings of up to 80% on medications and is available for anyone to use.
5. Communicate Early—Not When It’s Too Late
Don’t wait until you’re down to your last pill or you’ve already missed a doctor’s appointment. Proactive communication is everything. If you know a strike is coming, contact your union’s healthcare representative to talk through your options.
The stress of a strike is real, and it doesn’t just affect your finances. It can wear down your mental health, increase blood pressure, and strain family relationships. And for a lot of men, the instinct is to just tough it out.
But staying strong means staying healthy, too. Keep your regular checkups if you can. Keep taking your meds. Get rest. Eat something green every now and then. Talk to someone if it’s all feeling like too much.
Remember that taking care of yourself is part of the fight, not a weakness.
We’re Here for the Long Haul
At ClaimChoice, we’re proud to support America’s labor community. We partner with unions to provide benefits administration and support, recreate member coverage during work stoppages, and provide flexible solutions that work in the real world.
From assistance with claim forms to medical and pharmacy claim processing and member advocacy, our team is here to serve the people who keep this country running, even when the work stops.
So if you’re preparing for a strike, or in the middle of one right now, you’re not alone. Let’s get through this together, stronger and smarter than before.
