Eric Brandon, Strategic Account Executive Labor and Trust for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his union upbringing and how it helped guide him to the Labor and Trust division of Anthem. He also discussed how Anthem can help Taft Hartley Funds save union members money in healthcare costs.
Brandon has been with Anthem for over 13 years and has 26 years of experience on the union side. He joked that he was born with a union bug stamped on him with a father who was a Longshoreman, a mother who was a teacher and grandparents who were also union members. Brandon cut his teeth as an organizer with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 8 and with the International for 13 years. He was offered an opportunity to join the Labor and Trust department of Anthem Healthcare where he can help more union members than he could as an organizer.
Anthem is the largest Blue Cross Blue Shield company, covering over 2.3 million union members nationwide. Brandon said one in two union members are covered by Anthem, and it is Anthem’s job to make sure these members get the health care they deserve. There are over 325 different Taft Hartley Funds, and within Anthem, they have a specific Taft Hartley Labor and Trust team that works directly with Labor Unions. Brandon explained why he enjoys working with all the unions and what makes the union clients different from corporate clients.
When Anthem works with a union, Taft Hartley Fund, Brandon explained how they create a unique plan to meet their members' needs. When making these plans, he explained how the methods have changed for Anthem to provide the best possible plan and lowest cost for their union clients. Brandon explained how Anthem can negotiate down the costs with hospitals to reduce the costs paid by their union clients. Through Anthem, Brandon said unions can set themselves apart from the non-union sector with the best health care in the industry.
For more on Anthem and their Labor and Trust division, listen to the show above.