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History of the IAFF HWT & Governance
The IAFF Health & Wellness Trust (HWT) is a Union-Sponsored Health & Wellness Trust, focusing on fire fighter-centric healthcare, prioritizing members and their families. Everything we do is motivated by our desire to improve the healthcare experience for participating members are we are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative ways to meet that goal.
The Trust was established in 2013 by the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF), operating as the Northwest Fire Fighters Benefits Trust (NWFFT). One of the driving motivations in starting our own Trust was to help address the problems faced by Washington fire fighters approaching retirement – healthcare. With no mandated access to employer-sponsored healthcare, HWT was developed, in part, to help members address that part of the retiree healthcare equation (see IAFF MERP for retiree healthcare funding solutions). Recognizing that other locals throughout the 7th District of the IAFF were facing similar challenges, the Plan was quickly expanded to Alaska, Idaho, and Montana.
IAFF Financial Corporation (IAFF-FC)
In 2022, the plan was rebranded to the IAFF Health & Wellness Trust following a strategic partnership with the IAFF Financial Corporation (IAFF-FC), allowing even greater and educational opportunities to IAFF Affiliate Locals across the country. Learn more about the benefits available to IAFF members through the IAFF-FC by visiting the IAFF Financial Corporation website.
The Trust is now available to any US-based IAFF Participating Local employed by a public entity. Eligible Locals must have collective bargaining (or similar), aligning with IRS rules for operating as a Union-Sponsored Health & Welfare Trust under ERISA. Additionally, coverage may be extended to non-bargained fire department staff.
Today, the IAFF Health & Wellness Trust continues to be governed by fire fighter fiduciary Trustees with a team of
professional service providers. This growth is sure to continue as we hear from more and more locals looking
to provide superior benefits to their members that are for fire fighters, by fire fighters.
Ties to the IAFF Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP)
While HWT helps to address the issue of access to quality retiree healthcare, there’s still the funding issue that so many of our members continue to struggle with: How can I afford to pay for health insurance in retirement? The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF) addressed this issue in 1999, long before establishing the health trust. Like HWT, the IAFF Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) is completely governed by fire fighter Trustees from participating Locals. The MERP is a tax-sheltered plan designed to help participating members pay for healthcare benefits in retirement by providing a tax-sheltered, lifetime stream of monthly benefits for reimbursement of IRS-eligible medical expenses.
For more information on the IAFF MERP, visit IAFFMERP.org.