Fellow Travelers Benefits for The Merchants Fund - Effective 1/1/2023
Why am I Here?
We're a professional employer organization, here to help with back office HR functions like payroll, employee benefits, and compliance. Your employer partnered with us to serve as a "co-employer" for tax & benefit purposes. Think of us as your new HR department, who can help with payroll questions, time off / PTO, health insurance & other benefits. You can make your benefits elections here on this page by clicking "Make Benefits Elections" and then selecting your plan. You can contact us at service@fellowpeo.com if you have any questions.
Your company may not offer all benefits listed on this page
Your company may not offer all benefits listed on this page
Helpful Numbers
Fellow Travelers PEO: 484-253-6907
Independence Blue Cross: 800-ASK-BLUE
Ameritas Dental: 800-487-5553
Eyemed Vision: 866-939-3633
Colonial Disability & Accident Insurance: 800-325-4368
Future Scripts Prescription Drugs: 888-678-7012
Health Coaching: 800-313-8628
Mental Health / Substance Abuse Hotline: 800-688-1911
Independence Blue Cross: 800-ASK-BLUE
Ameritas Dental: 800-487-5553
Eyemed Vision: 866-939-3633
Colonial Disability & Accident Insurance: 800-325-4368
Future Scripts Prescription Drugs: 888-678-7012
Health Coaching: 800-313-8628
Mental Health / Substance Abuse Hotline: 800-688-1911
Retirement Plan
Health Insurance
What is the Health Insurance?
How to Shop for Health Insurance
The health insurance is fully covered by The Merchants Fund. There are 2 plan options, the HMO Platinum 30 and the PPO Gold Preferred.
The PPO plan will work anywhere and has a very large national network. You also do not need referrals to see specialists. Most services do NOT have a deductible and merely have a copay. Some rarer higher cost procedures are subject to a deductible and a copay. This plan is an excellent value in most parts of the country.
The HMO plan has excellent coverage with very low copays. However, you will need to only use in-network providers and must get referrals for specialists and most non-primary care physician activities.
https://www.ibx.com/providerfinder - Your Plan = Keystone HMO/POS
How to Find an In-Network Doctor
The health insurance is fully covered by The Merchants Fund. There are 2 plan options, the HMO Platinum 30 and the PPO Gold Preferred.
The PPO plan will work anywhere and has a very large national network. You also do not need referrals to see specialists. Most services do NOT have a deductible and merely have a copay. Some rarer higher cost procedures are subject to a deductible and a copay. This plan is an excellent value in most parts of the country.
The HMO plan has excellent coverage with very low copays. However, you will need to only use in-network providers and must get referrals for specialists and most non-primary care physician activities.
https://www.ibx.com/providerfinder - Your Plan = Keystone HMO/POS
How to Find an In-Network Doctor
Other Health Insurance Benefits & Services
Health Insurance Claim Forms, ID Cards, EOB's
Health Insurance Benefit Summary
Non Health Insurance
Retirement Plan
Eligibility for the 401K Plan is different for each of the plans. Please contact Fellow Travelers for details.
Dental Benefits: Through US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
We participate in the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives aggregated Dental Plan through Delta Dental.
Our Dental Insurance is fantastic! There is virtually no network because if you see an out of network provider, the dental plan will reimburse the out of network visit at in-network benefit copays / coinsurance! Only in very rare situations would that not be the case (VERY RARE).
Dental Benefit Summary & Rates
Dental Benefit Summary Spanish
Dental Benefits FAQ
Dental Benefits FAQ - Spanish
Dentist Search - PPO plus Premier Network
Where's my ID Card? (Our Policy Number is TBD)
2023 Delta Dental OUT OF NETWORK Claim Form
Delta Orthodontic Benefit FAQ
Your COBRA Rights
Our Dental Insurance is fantastic! There is virtually no network because if you see an out of network provider, the dental plan will reimburse the out of network visit at in-network benefit copays / coinsurance! Only in very rare situations would that not be the case (VERY RARE).
Dental Benefit Summary & Rates
Dental Benefit Summary Spanish
Dental Benefits FAQ
Dental Benefits FAQ - Spanish
Dentist Search - PPO plus Premier Network
Where's my ID Card? (Our Policy Number is TBD)
2023 Delta Dental OUT OF NETWORK Claim Form
Delta Orthodontic Benefit FAQ
Your COBRA Rights
Vision Benefits: Through US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
We participate in the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives aggregated Employer Vision Plan through Ameritas. You can choose between 2 networks / vision companies with Ameritas, Eyemed or VSP.
The insurance is run thru Ameritas, but you then choose one network to utilize, Eyemed or VSP. Generally, Eyemed has very slightly better benefits than VSP (better premium contact lens reimbursement and very slightly lower deductibles). VSP however does have more "boutique" ophthalmologists in network whereas Eyemed is the largest vision insurance company in the USA (with VSP being the 2nd largest). There are links to search each network below (the monthly premiums are the same for either option.
Our Vision Insurance is a "no-brainer" if you use contacts / glasses consistently. If the premiums are less than your annual costs for vision care, this plan is worth enrolling into.
Vision Member Portal / ID Cards: Click "Member Sign In" (NY if in New York State) - NOTE do not use this site to check the vision network, use the links below.
Eyemed Vision Benefit Summary & Rates - through Ameritas Insurance
Eyemed Vision Benefit Summary - Spanish
EyeMed Insight Network
Find an Eyemed Eye Doctor
VSP Vision Benefit Summary & Rates - through Ameritas Insurance
VSP Vision Benefit Summary - Spanish
Find an VSP Eye Doctor
Your COBRA Rights
The insurance is run thru Ameritas, but you then choose one network to utilize, Eyemed or VSP. Generally, Eyemed has very slightly better benefits than VSP (better premium contact lens reimbursement and very slightly lower deductibles). VSP however does have more "boutique" ophthalmologists in network whereas Eyemed is the largest vision insurance company in the USA (with VSP being the 2nd largest). There are links to search each network below (the monthly premiums are the same for either option.
Our Vision Insurance is a "no-brainer" if you use contacts / glasses consistently. If the premiums are less than your annual costs for vision care, this plan is worth enrolling into.
Vision Member Portal / ID Cards: Click "Member Sign In" (NY if in New York State) - NOTE do not use this site to check the vision network, use the links below.
Eyemed Vision Benefit Summary & Rates - through Ameritas Insurance
Eyemed Vision Benefit Summary - Spanish
EyeMed Insight Network
Find an Eyemed Eye Doctor
VSP Vision Benefit Summary & Rates - through Ameritas Insurance
VSP Vision Benefit Summary - Spanish
Find an VSP Eye Doctor
Your COBRA Rights
Disability Insurance: Through US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (GUARNTEED ISSUE)
We participate in the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives aggregated Employer Disability Plan through Colonial.
Our Disability Insurance is guaranteed issue (for new companies / employees)! You cannot be turned down because of pre-existing conditions. Any pre-existing conditions will NOT be covered for one year, then are eligible for coverage.
Disability Benefit Summary
Disability Benefit Summary - Spanish
Disability Benefit Brochure
Disability Rates
Colonial Disability Insurance: 800-325-4368
Make a Disability Claim Online
Make Disability Claim - Paper Form
Disability Maximums for CT, MA, NJ, & WA
Our Disability Insurance is guaranteed issue (for new companies / employees)! You cannot be turned down because of pre-existing conditions. Any pre-existing conditions will NOT be covered for one year, then are eligible for coverage.
Disability Benefit Summary
Disability Benefit Summary - Spanish
Disability Benefit Brochure
Disability Rates
Colonial Disability Insurance: 800-325-4368
Make a Disability Claim Online
Make Disability Claim - Paper Form
Disability Maximums for CT, MA, NJ, & WA
Accident Insurance: Through US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
We participate in the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives aggregated Employer Accident Plan through Colonial.
Our Accident Insurance is pays money directly to you in case of an accident occurs, regardless if other copays / costs were incurred or are lower than the Accident insurance payment.
Accident Insurance Benefit Summary
Accident Insurance Benefit Summary - Spanish
NEW YORK: Accident Insurance Benefit Summary
NEW YORK: Accident Insurance Benefit Summary - Spanish
Accident Rates
Colonial Accident Insurance: 800-325-4368
Make Accident Insurance Claim - Instructions
Accident Insurance Claim Form
*It is recommended you just take a paper accident claim form with you when getting treatment for accident related events. Even minor events such as a bruise can be considered accidents.
Our Accident Insurance is pays money directly to you in case of an accident occurs, regardless if other copays / costs were incurred or are lower than the Accident insurance payment.
Accident Insurance Benefit Summary
Accident Insurance Benefit Summary - Spanish
NEW YORK: Accident Insurance Benefit Summary
NEW YORK: Accident Insurance Benefit Summary - Spanish
Accident Rates
Colonial Accident Insurance: 800-325-4368
Make Accident Insurance Claim - Instructions
Accident Insurance Claim Form
*It is recommended you just take a paper accident claim form with you when getting treatment for accident related events. Even minor events such as a bruise can be considered accidents.
Other Benefits
AblePay Discounts
Sign Up for AblePay Discounts (Use “Fellow Travelers” as your employer to qualify)
AblePay Reduces your Medical Costs! AblePay pre-purchases your medical debt/expenses from healthcare providers in exchange for a discount. Have you ever transfered money from Venmo or PayPal or a bank and there is an “instant transfer” option but at a cost of 1% or a few bucks? It’s like that, but with healthcare. AblePay pre-pays your medical costs in exchange for a discount, which they share with you! If you don’t pay the medical bill, AblePay owns your the debt liability…not the healthcare provider. That’s how they can pass along a discount to you!
From the AblePay website:
AblePay is a unique and innovative program that addresses what many of us are dealing with; how to diffuse the rising costs of deductibles and coinsurance. AblePay is a healthcare consumer company that assists our members by providing discounts, flexible and convenient payment options, and the necessary support if you ever have a question or an issue. The goal is to make navigating the healthcare system as painless as possible.
By assisting our provider partners in reducing expenses and receivable times, we have negotiated a discounted rate in exchange for guaranteed payment immediately after the insurance process is completed. This allows us to pass a portion of these savings, up to 13%, along to our members.
AblePay Reduces your Medical Costs! AblePay pre-purchases your medical debt/expenses from healthcare providers in exchange for a discount. Have you ever transfered money from Venmo or PayPal or a bank and there is an “instant transfer” option but at a cost of 1% or a few bucks? It’s like that, but with healthcare. AblePay pre-pays your medical costs in exchange for a discount, which they share with you! If you don’t pay the medical bill, AblePay owns your the debt liability…not the healthcare provider. That’s how they can pass along a discount to you!
From the AblePay website:
AblePay is a unique and innovative program that addresses what many of us are dealing with; how to diffuse the rising costs of deductibles and coinsurance. AblePay is a healthcare consumer company that assists our members by providing discounts, flexible and convenient payment options, and the necessary support if you ever have a question or an issue. The goal is to make navigating the healthcare system as painless as possible.
By assisting our provider partners in reducing expenses and receivable times, we have negotiated a discounted rate in exchange for guaranteed payment immediately after the insurance process is completed. This allows us to pass a portion of these savings, up to 13%, along to our members.
Helpful Phone Numbers & Websites
Independence Blue Cross: 800-ASK-BLUE
Find a Blue Cross Doctor
Future Scripts Prescription Drugs: 888-678-7012
Health Coaching: 800-313-8628
Mental Health / Substance Abuse Hotline: 800-688-1911
Fellow Travelers: 484-253-6907
Find a Blue Cross Doctor
Future Scripts Prescription Drugs: 888-678-7012
Health Coaching: 800-313-8628
Mental Health / Substance Abuse Hotline: 800-688-1911
Fellow Travelers: 484-253-6907