Worker Benefits ProgramWelcome to the USFWC Worker Benefits Program
The USFWC has a Worker Benefits Program to provide more affordable health benefits to our members like vision, dental, disability & accident insurance and more.
We know that the only true path to health equity in this country is comprehensive and free healthcare for every person -- and that’s why the USFWC has endorsed Medicare for All. We also know that our members have healthcare needs NOW, and by pooling together, we can make the cost of quality workplace benefits less expensive and easier to administer. That’s why the USFWC Worker Benefits Program exists.
New for 2026! Life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, and a FREE Employee Assistance Program!
Enrollment is open to all USFWC members.
Become a member to access benefits!
Ready to get started? Email us at benefits@usworker.coop
Benefits Info Quick Links
Video Libraries
Benefits Programs - Provided by Equitable with USFWC Administration and Support
Dental and vision insurance provided by Equitable is available at a competitive rate with rich benefits.
Organization Requirements
- Organizations of all member classes are eligible (associate members must pay minimum $500 in dues)
- We require that workplaces pay a minimum of 50% of workers' monthly premiums. We strongly encourage workplaces to pay as close as possible to 100% of the cost because it is in the best financial interest of both the business and the worker.
- Workplaces are not required to contribute to the monthly premium for non-workers (dependents).
- Each workplace must have 70% enrollment of qualifying workers to enroll, not including workers that are covered by a partner or parent's plan.
Individual Requirements
- Workers must work 20+ hours a week, and have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) to be eligible. (LLC coops taxed as partnerships contact benefits@usworker.coop to discuss options)
- Dependents are eligible until age 26.
- Partners are eligible for coverage. Legal marriage is not required, though you must be able to provide proof of shared bills or lease showing shared residence upon request. Our plans are LGBTQ-friendly.
- Disclosure of legal name and sex are required by insurance companies for enrollment, but if requested we will use an individual's chosen name and accurate gender identity in correspondence.
- Workers can pick their benefit amount - from $10,000 to $500,000
- A workplace can opt to pay for a flat $20,000 benefit for its workers
- Workers can choose to add dependents
- AD&D is optional
- Workers can pick their benefit amount - up to 60% of their pre-tax wages
- Workplaces can decide whether or not they contribute to the benefit
Short term disability details:
- Maximum benefit duration: 24 weeks
- Benefit Commencement date: 15 days after onset of illness or injury or birth
- For off-the-job injury/illness only
Long-term disability details:
Coming soon!
Workers may pick and choose which of these benefits they wish to buy, and may buy coverage for dependents as well (partner, children). Workers pay for the full monthly cost.
- If you are in an accident, accident insurance will provide an itemized payout for different types of injuries and different types of medical care you may receive.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- If you are hospitalized, hospital indemnity insurance will provide a payout based on the length of your hospitalization and the degree of care you received.
- Pick the standard plan or choose the "Buy up" plan for increased benefits
Critical Illness Insurance
- If you are diagnosed with a specified illness after purchasing the insurance, you will receive a payout of up to $20,000 depending on the illness and your chosen benefit level.
- Eligible illnesses include but are not limited to: cancer; cardiovascular conditions or events; degenerative illnesses like ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's; onset of blindness, deafness or paralysis
No matter which benefits your workplace chooses, everyone gets free access to an Employee Assistance Program!
- It's Free for ALL enrollees in any of the benefits - including dependents!
- Support in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Portuguese and more
- Confidential support for
- Mental health, grief, relationship difficulties
- Finding child or elder care
- Legal guidance
- Financial planning
- Identity theft
External Partners for Medical and Retirement Benefits
Just Futures and the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives are partnering to make it easy for worker cooperatives to offer values-aligned, affordable retirement benefits.
Just Futures is a financial platform that connects nonprofits, their workers, and ordinary people with values-aligned financial solutions, informed by social justice movements, that build towards a more inclusive and sustainable economy for all.
USFWC members receive discounted pricing on startup and advisory fees for retirement plans with Just Futures. By partnering with Just Futures, the USFWC offers members access to a needed benefit through an investment model designed by experts to support movement organizations and the transition to a just and regenerative economy. Just Futures provides flexible solutions that can meet the diverse needs of USFWC members!
Note: The USFWC is not responsible for the operations or outcomes of retirement plans implemented through Just Futures.
2026 General Health Insurance Coverage
Finding high-quality insurance at affordable rates for groups or individuals is extremely challenging in the United States. Plus, health insurance works a little differently in every state, making it impossible to have a one-size-fits-all solution for our members across the country. We have gathered resources, are doing research, and building partnerships to help USFWC members access health care more easily and more affordably.
We do NOT offer multiple employer medical insurance plans. We have limited ability to help our members offer organization-specific small group medical insurance.
Options are different state-to-state, so please email us at benefits@usworker.coop for details, quotes and help in Spanish.
Note: The USFWC is not responsible for the operations or outcomes of medical insurance plans implemented through Marsh McLennan.
HRAs, FSAs and HSAs - three options to make pre-tax funds available to workers to pay for healthcare costs. Depending on your organization and its eligibility, these structures can be used for health care premiums, out of pocket costs, as well as childcare.
- Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)- Company sets aside a certain amount of money per-worker (not taxed as payroll) for healthcare costs. Requires group health insurance plan to be in place.
- Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) - Some types of HRAs are specifically for workers to pay for health insurance premiums.
- Health Savings Account (HSA)- A savings account that belongs to the worker, not the company, to pay for healthcare costs. HSAs require you to have a qualifying high deductible health plan.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - An account that complements a group insurance plan through a workplace to pay for additional healthcare costs.
- Dependent Care FSA - An account that allows workers to designate pre-tax income to use for qualifying childcare expenses for children 13 and under, as well as certain types of older adult dependent care.
Tax-advantaged plans with the Harrison Group - English / Spanish
Note: The USFWC is not responsible for the operations or outcomes of Harrison Group products.
About the Worker Benefits Program
We know that the only true path to health equity in this country is comprehensive and free healthcare for every person -- and that’s why the USFWC has endorsed Medicare for All. We also know that our members have healthcare needs NOW, and by pooling together, we can make the cost of quality workplace benefits less expensive and easier to administer. That’s why the USFWC Worker Benefits Program exists.
Since 2018, we’ve provided our members with an option for group dental and vision insurance for their workers. To date, over 60 of our member organizations in urban and rural areas across the U.S. have participated in this program, with over 600 people participating in the program presently. In 2025, we continue to offer dental and vision benefits, medical insurance in some states, a low-cost option for administering tax-advantaged funds for healthcare costs through HRAs, FSAs and HSAs, and a partnership that offers preferred pricing on Retirement Benefits administration to USFWC members.
Each of our programs include a small fee so we can support your organization with administration and maintain and expand our avenues to affordable benefits products. To join our Worker Benefits Program, please fill out this form! Questions? Contact us at benefits@usworker.coop!
To enroll outside open enrollment for new USFWC members:
Workplaces may email benefits@usworker.coop to enroll as an organization. This includes organizations of all classes of USFWC membership. Associate members must pay a minimum of $500 per year in membership dues to qualify.
