Ford, UAW seek healthier workers with pilot program incentives

[mettech]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130610/AUTO0102/306100315/1148/auto01/Ford-UAW-seek-healthier-workers-pilot-program-incentives

 

"...Detroit autoworkers have long been stereotyped as hard-drinking, overweight smokers. But Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Workers hope to help dispel that image and lower the automaker's health care costs through financial incentives to factory employees who make healthy lifestyle choices.

 

Details are still being hammered out, but the two sides hope to announce the voluntary pilot program next month, according to people close to the talks. Other American automakers are watching what happens in Dearborn closely and could follow Ford with wellness incentive programs of their own as the industry struggles to rein in rising health care costs.

"As part of the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, Ford and the UAW agreed to further discuss health initiatives," Ford spokeswoman Kristina Adamski said in a statement to The Detroit News. "We have nothing further to announce at this time."

 

Ford, GM and Chrysler spend about $5 an hour on health care for new hires and other second-tier hourly workers. For veteran factory workers, who enjoy more generous benefits, the cost is about $8 an hour. By 2015, the average for all hourly workers could reach $11 an hour..."

 

 

So, the cost of health care will soon be above minimum wage.

 

It will be interesting to see what the Affordable Care Act will cost.

 

 

 

 

[Noah Harbinger]

It will be interesting to see what the Affordable Care Act will cost.

 

The Silver-level plan in California is about half as much as my current employer-provided group plan - $250/month for a 30-ish individual.

 

http://www.coveredca.com/calculating_the_cost.html

 

Of course, a lot of it comes down to how well your state implements the plan.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Noah Harbinger