Canada's Health Care System Cheaper for Business!
Two articles today came across my desk (Detroit News March 15th and LA Times March 16) which talked about Chrysler and Ford's move to ask their salaried employees to pay a health care premium for their spouses who are already covered by health coverage elsewhere. A creative and politically sound approach to cost cutting, from what I can see. The numbers that caught my eye, however were these:
Chrylser's health care spending grew 12 percent to $2.2 billion from $1.96 billion in 2004. Chrysler expects to dole out 14 percent more this year or $2.6 billion.
At Ford, the spousal surcharge is one of many changes being implemented as the company works to cut a health care tab that last year topped $3.5 billion.
No wonder these companies a few years ago weighed in on the debate about the future of Canada's public health care system. Their joint letter to Canada's Ministry of Health came out in full favor of our public system as it operates today.
And no wonder! What could these American companies be doing with 2 - 3 billion dollars that they now pay to shoulder the social burdens that the U.S. government refuses to take on? Research and development, perhaps more consumer cost cutting to bolster sales, perhaps more benefits for workers. The possibilities are endless.
Instead they are pouring their cash into the throats of the terribly inefficient and inequal health care insurance and HMO industry in the U.S. whose unregulated fee and billing structure has created an unwieldly administrative beast with huge overhead and very few obvious benefits for the greater society.
Please Canadians - don't let our media convince you that privatization of our health care system is a good thing!! Unless you really study the statistics and learn about how much of a state of decay the U.S. health system is - you will never realize how good you have it. As an individual, in the US it costs an average of $10,000 per year for health insurance premiums, health costs and co-pays. Do you as an individual have an extra $10,000 to pay for your health care?!?!?!
Similarly, as a business, do you have 2 - 3 BILLION lying around to pay for your worker's health care? Of course not! Keep Canada's system public!!!
Chrylser's health care spending grew 12 percent to $2.2 billion from $1.96 billion in 2004. Chrysler expects to dole out 14 percent more this year or $2.6 billion.
At Ford, the spousal surcharge is one of many changes being implemented as the company works to cut a health care tab that last year topped $3.5 billion.
No wonder these companies a few years ago weighed in on the debate about the future of Canada's public health care system. Their joint letter to Canada's Ministry of Health came out in full favor of our public system as it operates today.
And no wonder! What could these American companies be doing with 2 - 3 billion dollars that they now pay to shoulder the social burdens that the U.S. government refuses to take on? Research and development, perhaps more consumer cost cutting to bolster sales, perhaps more benefits for workers. The possibilities are endless.
Instead they are pouring their cash into the throats of the terribly inefficient and inequal health care insurance and HMO industry in the U.S. whose unregulated fee and billing structure has created an unwieldly administrative beast with huge overhead and very few obvious benefits for the greater society.
Please Canadians - don't let our media convince you that privatization of our health care system is a good thing!! Unless you really study the statistics and learn about how much of a state of decay the U.S. health system is - you will never realize how good you have it. As an individual, in the US it costs an average of $10,000 per year for health insurance premiums, health costs and co-pays. Do you as an individual have an extra $10,000 to pay for your health care?!?!?!
Similarly, as a business, do you have 2 - 3 BILLION lying around to pay for your worker's health care? Of course not! Keep Canada's system public!!!
posted by Annette | 3:04 p.m.
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