Montana Food Distributors Association (MFDA)

The association provides its members the opportunity to participate in a fully insured health, life, dental and vision plan at a competetive price. In addition to the fully insured benefits, a voluntary employee benefits association (veba) trust is being established to provide premium stability and large loss protection for losses in excess of $100,000. The veba structure protects participating members from large premium swings and unpredictable costs of employee benefits.

The association provides a central clearing service through a contract service provider to redeem manufactuers' discount coupons honored by the members for their retail customers. The program originated in 1939 and is the oldest service to the member currently paying 99% of the face value of the coupon to the member.

The association provides a group purchasing and work place safety program, which benefits the members in a multitude of areas. The recognized benefits provided by the association program include a potential reduction in workplace injury costs by promoting workplace safety, a reduction in premium by group purchasing power, a dual dividend structure (individual and group) for effective loss control, central biling by the association.