“We hold the hands of every one of our members”
– Teamsters Health & Welfare Fund
At Color, we do too. Through every stage of cancer care. How Teamsters Health & Welfare Fund of Philadelphia reshaped their cancer strategy with Color to drive engagement, support members across the journey, and deliver measurable ROI in year one.
stronger among eligible members than standard benefits
that includes 81% in prostate cancer
managed with care and provided with personalized next steps
92% of members reported a positive experience with Color
“It’s a win-win situation because from a Fund perspective, you’re looking at catching something early. So, you’re looking at savings there. And from a member’s perspective, you’re looking at catching something early and increasing your survival rate.”
Maria Scheeler, Executive Director / Administrator, Teamsters Health & Welfare Fund of Philadelphia and Vicinity
Hear from Maria and other personnel and members as they share their experiences with Color Health and how proactive care has helped them take control of cancer.
The Teamsters Health & Welfare Fund of Philadelphia and Vicinity lives by the motto: “We hold the hands of every one of our members.” With thousands of members and dependents, that promise is both a point of pride and a significant responsibility.
Their population of truck drivers, warehouse workers, loaders, and unloaders is always on the move. Many spend their lives on the road. 20% had not seen a doctor in the past year, making regular preventive care difficult to access and easy to put off.
Maria Scheeler, Administrator and Executive Director of the Fund, partnered with Color to reshape their cancer strategy with an earlier, more proactive approach. Historically, engagement in preventive care through primary care or wellness programs had been low. With Color, participation was stronger from the start, leading to impressive increases in screening adherence and follow-through.
At the center of this partnership is Color’s oncologist-led Virtual Cancer Clinic, which delivers direct, clinical care across the entire cancer continuum. Teamsters members gain direct access to physicians, oncologists, and care advocates within a vertically integrated model that supports them from risk assessment and early detection through diagnosis, active treatment management, and survivorship.
This approach makes cancer care both accessible and convenient for a population that spends much of its time on the road.
Drive awareness through postcards, emails, incentive programs, and in-person health fairs.
Educate members about how easy it is to complete a cancer risk assessment and screening test while on the road or at home.
Provide each participant with a digital health report of their results, followed by physician review and personal outreach with actionable next steps.
Manage the process so next steps occur for high-risk members by scheduling appointments, coordinating benefits, and removing barriers like transportation to appointments.
We chose Color because they align with our company culture of taking something complex and making it simple. We love how Color took complex topics and simplified them so everyone can appreciate their value
Since the Teamsters launched the program to more than 10,000 eligible members and spouses, participation has grown steadily, with more than 20% engaging with Color to date. With the addition of Color’s oncologist-led Virtual Cancer Clinic, members now receive direct, clinical care across the full cancer continuum, including 36 survivors and 8 members currently in active treatment.
The program has closed critical gaps, driving a 34% increase in cancer screening adherence on average, including 81% in prostate cancer. Closed gaps mean saved dollars and better health. It has also identified and supported the 36% of enrollees considered high risk, connecting them to timely care and follow-up.
Participants consistently report positive experiences, with a 10 out of 10 average care rating, and 92% saying the program helped them take action.
With Color, the Teamsters are proving that cancer care can be proactive, direct, and accessible. The program is delivering earlier diagnoses, better treatment experiences, and improved survivorship outcomes, while reducing costs for the Fund.
A male patient in his 60s completed a cancer risk assessment in late August. Based on his personal history of colon polyps, a Color clinician recommended a colonoscopy. But there was a problem: his spouse was disabled and unable to drive, and he had no family or friends available to take him to a weekday appointment.
A Color Care Advocate researched every option: ACS, county services, health insurance, medical transportation companies, Uber/Lyft, faith-based volunteers, and GI practices. Eventually, they found a medical group that offered free rides for colonoscopy patients. The screening was completed, and three pre-cancerous polyps were identified and removed.
I absolutely feel Color should be a core part of healthcare benefits, because I believe it provides a powerful tool for not only the Teamsters Fund, but also for the members.
The takeaway
For the Teamsters, a commitment to a better, smarter way to fund and manage comprehensive cancer care became possible because Color made it easy to implement and embrace across the board. By partnering with Color, the Fund closed screening gaps, caught cancer earlier, supported patients through active treatment, and stayed by survivors’ sides long after treatment ended.
The result is more than engagement. It is the next-generation of care, lives changed, dollars saved, and a model for how unions can take control of cancer.
Your members deserve care that focuses on people before they’re patients.
