Nearly seven years ago, the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma instated a tribal member healthcare plan through RWI Benefits, LLC. Less than two months after the plan started, 600 people were diagnosed with diabetes. Of those individuals, six would have likely died within one month had they not sought medical treatment, doctors said. Additionally, within three months of the health plan’s start, six women under the age of 25 were diagnosed with cervical cancer.
By creating a universal healthcare plan for his tribe, including medical, vision, dental and end-of-life insurance like hospice, through RWI Benefits, LLC, Robert Weaver is helping to save Native lives.
Weaver (Quapaw) founded RWI Benefits, LLC, in 2007. His insurance management firm specializes in insurance products including employee benefits, property and casualty, and worker’s compensation. The Quapaw Nation was his first client, when his tribe was preparing to open its Downstream Casino Resort and evaluating insurance bids, more than a decade ago. The tribe asked Weaver for help; the bids varied drastically, Weaver said.
Weaver decided to write his own bid to show the council what they should be looking for — better benefits at a lower price. Instead, the Quapaw Tribal Council hired Weaver.
“In 2006, even though it doesn’t seem that long ago, there were still a lot of insurance companies — in my opinion — that were very much taking advantage of tribes and their enterprises,” he said.
Through RWI Benefits, LLC, Weaver has helped several tribes and tribal enterprises save money and improve their health programs, including the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma.
Weaver is motivated by his own family’s devastating experiences with the death and destruction caused by substance abuse, mental health issues, addiction and preventable illnesses. When Weaver was a teenager, he lost a cousin to suicide. The traumatic experience deeply impacted him. At that time, finding adequate, accessible health insurance coverage for mental health issues was very difficult. He has chosen to honor the memories of his friends and relatives by working at the tribal, state and federal levels to improve access and affordability to quality healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives through improving employee benefit plans and creating tribal member health, dental, vision and memorial benefit plans.
The below RWI Benefits video explains why Robert Weaver is a “warrior for health care.”
RWI Benefits is located in Miami, Oklahoma, with an additional office in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Rob and his wife, Blythe, have four children and reside in Grove, Oklahoma.
RWI Benefits, LLC, will be honored as the 2017 American Indian Business of the Year during the National Reservation Economic Summit (National RES) next week, March 13-16, at the Mirage in Las Vegas.
Host National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development will recognize several Native American business leaders and those who have made significant contributions to advancing economic development in Indian country. The award winners span businesses large and small, and award categories include tribal leadership, gaming, women-owned business, volunteers, and public advocacy.
Weaver was also a 2012 winner of the National Center’s 40 under 40 awards, among numerous other awards and recognitions.
“RWI Benefits exemplifies the spirit of the American Indian Business of the Year Award,” said Chris James, the National Center’s President and CEO. “They share the National Center’s commitment to helping Native businesses get to the next level. We look forward to honoring the important role RWI plays in supporting Native enterprises and their employees.”
The 31st Annual National RES, consistently the largest economic development gathering in Indian country, draws more than 4,000 Native leaders, businesses and business owners, subject-matter experts, government officials, among others.
