Healthcare & Benefits for Former USEC Employees United Energy Workers Healthcare

By Cassie Johnson

Did you or someone you know work at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant? More commonly known as USEC (United States Enrichment Corporation), the plant provided hundreds of jobs in our area. Exposure to harmful chemicals, toxins, and heavy metals with high levels of radiation has been linked to many chronic health issues for those who worked there.

Past and present employees of USEC and their caregivers may be entitled to medical benefits or compensation. United Energy Workers Healthcare is a family-based company whose heritage began in the uranium mines of Blanding, Utah. After the passing of their grandfather from a uraniumrelated occupational illness, founders Travis and Chad Shumway were inspired to help other families facing similar struggles. They started the United Energy Workers Healthcare and are the leading national home healthcare company serving families all over the country.

“Our company is driven by our personal experiences,” Andrew Hogue, Client Benefit Analyst told me. “We have endured the hardships and loss of watching a loved one live with an illness. We combine experienced and respectful staff with compassion from first-hand experiences. We simply want to help the employee and their families. There are many unknown benefits available for both.”

No Out-of-Pocket Costs

Qualified individuals have no out-of-pocket costs for covered medical expenses by an enrolled provider. Their family will not have to take FMLA to care for them and may qualify to become paid caregivers. Most importantly, the patient gets to stay in their own home.

“Our RNs and LPNs provide exceptional skilled nursing care,” Hogue said. “We can help provide basic personal healthcare assistance such as bathing and dressing from certified nursing assistants. Whether you need help with daily hygiene, cooking meals, or hands-on care, we will make accommodations for the right professionals. Home therapeutic services including physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapies can be provided at no cost from the comforts of your own home.”

Federal Programs

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA) and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) are federal programs that provide compensation and home healthcare service. These services are provided at no cost to former government employees who became ill as a result of working in atomic industry conditions.

What is EEOICPA?

The federal government created EEOICPA to help compensate Department of Energy (DOE) workers who became ill as a result of exposure to harmful chemicals on the job after 1941. This program compensates current and past employees, contractors, and subcontractors. The EEOICPA acknowledges workers who sacrificed their health for their employment. As a result, their health has deteriorated and those living with health complications may have limitations in their daily lives as a result of that work. In turn, they are compensating them with the best home healthcare available.

Certain requirements must be met to obtain compensation. Covered illnesses include specific cancers, chronic silicosis, beryllium sensitivity, or chronic beryllium disease. Injury, impairment, or disability sustained as a result of exposure at work for the DOE may also be covered. If a worker is deceased, their surviving family members may be able to receive compensation.

What is RECA?

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act helps individuals receive healthcare at no cost to them for approved health conditions related to working with uranium at qualifying sites. Silicosis, pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and renal disease are just a few eligible conditions. For more information on EEOICPA and RECA, visit uewhealth. com and click BENEFITS in the menu bar.

Covered conditions approved under the EEOICPA include those deemed likely to have been caused by, aggravated by, or contributed to by their former employment. Health conditions including radiationinduced cancers, chronic beryllium disease (CBD), beryllium sensitivity, chronic silicosis, chemically induced illnesses, and occupational lung diseases are all covered medical conditions. Consequential conditions such as steroid treatments for a covered condition or diabetes as a result of covered conditions are also included.

Tailored Services

“United Energy Workers Healthcare offers a wide range of services to accommodate medical needs tailored for each individual’s situation,” Hogue shared. “We will work with your physicians to ensure your customized plan of care is in line with your personal healthcare goals. When health conditions arise, patients should not have to worry about finances such as paying for their healthcare or how to support their family. Having the illness is enough - there shouldn’t be any unnecessary hardships due to medical expenses.”

If you or a loved one think you may have qualifying conditions, contact Andrew Hogue. Like the company, he is located in Utah but visits our area specifically to meet with individuals affected by work-related illnesses or impairments. You can reach him at 801.809.7506 or via email at andrew. hogue@uewhealth.com. 