May 2, 2017

Health plan for Western Growers marks anniversary

Western Growers Assurance Trust (WGAT) marks 60 years of offering health care options to the agricultural community with a series of open house events in each of its four Cedar Health and Wellness Centers. The open houses will take place from May 9-12, in Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Maria and its newest location in Oxnard.

“We have been very pleased with the positive results our participating employers have achieved by offering the Cedar Health and Wellness Center option to their employees who live or work near our centers,” said David Zanze, executive vice president of WGAT. “These open house events give us an opportunity to introduce these health centers to other ag industry employers who are interested in maximizing their health cost savings.”

Sixty years ago, Western Growers launched the agriculture industry’s first solution to allowing agribusinesses to easily offer health plans to their employees. Since then, WGAT has become the largest provider of health benefits for the agricultural industry.

WGAT specializes in offering customizable benefit plans for owners, managers, field workers and seasonal employees. Over the years, WGAT has helped employers manage the rising costs of health care through consumer driven health plans, health savings accounts, high deductible health plans and flexible spending accounts. It partnered with Pinnacle Rx Solutions for pharmacy plans.

WGAT started offering the Cedar Health & Wellness Centers and associated Cedar Network five years ago to further deliver care options with lower copays than standard plans. As part of the network, participating farm workers and agribusiness employees have access to everything from online wellness tools and networks that include Mexico providers to field services where bilingual WGAT teams visit work crews to answer health benefits-related questions.

The Cedar Health and Wellness Centers in Salinas, Santa Maria and Watsonville will be hosting open houses to reintroduce themselves to the business community. In an effort to further provide access to health services for ag workers, Watsonville has added radiology services, while Salinas and Santa Maria have moved to bigger facilities to accommodate more clients.

In February, WGAT opened its newest Cedar Health and Wellness Center in Oxnard and will have an official ribbon cutting during its open house. WGAT participants in Oxnard and surrounding communities can use the new Cedar center, which offers expanded hours, same day appointments, bilingual care and quality care options with lower copays than standard health plans. The services include immunizations, preventive routine checkups, health screenings, first aid and pediatric care for children two years and older.

Agriculture employers and their employees in the local communities are invited to the following open houses, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in:

• Salinas – Tuesday, May, 9 (951 Blanco Circle, Suite F in Salinas)
• Watsonville – Wednesday, May 10 (150 Carnation Drive, Suite 5 in Freedom)
• Santa Maria – Thursday, May 11 (525 E. Plaza Drive, Suite 302 in Santa Maria)
• Oxnard – Friday, May 12 (650 Hobson Way, Suite 207 in Oxnard)

All attendees will receive a guided tour, light refreshments, and a chance to win an Apple watch (for employers) and a new bike (for employees). Employees may also receive a complimentary health screening during the open house hours.

For more information on Western Growers Assurance Trust, visit their website at WGAT.com or call (800) 333-4WGA.