Higher health bills loom at Ford

[OhioChick]

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. salaried employees are bracing for big health insurance premium hikes and a small number of layoffs a week after some 6,000 of their colleagues left the company voluntarily under buyout programs.

In a webcast to white collar workers Wednesday, Ford Americas President Mark Fields said employees will have to shoulder more of their own medical costs as the company struggles to rein in spending. Workers were told in November to expect health care increases.

"We knew it was coming," said one staffer at Ford's world headquarters in Dearborn.

Ford salaried employees will see their premiums rise an average of 30 percent, their drug co-pays and deductibles also will increase, and they will have fewer health plans to choose from.

Merit pay increases have been suspended, and workers have new restrictions on sick days and personal days.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070308/AUTO01/703080349/1040/LIFESTYLE03

[Vinca]

1. The auto makers need to demand universal, single payer, health care

NOW! If they threaten to close their doors, maybe that will stir the monied masses in Washington.

[dubyaD40web]

2. There's no excuse for this.

They've had many years to plan for this and they didn't. Bad business all around.

[Spangle]

3. I agree!

it was thought that Americans could be shamed into supporting them, no matter what they produced. But the company didn't feel that it needed to listen to the consumers for what they want and need.

I know the taxpayers are going to have to help those loosing their jobs over this. But at least we are not subsidising the company so they can keep repeating the same mistakes and pocking the money. It's subsidised either way.

[roamer65]

4. Ford workers in Canada don't have any worries.

Ah...the benefits of a single payor, socialized medicine system.

[ProudDad]

5. I'm really amazed at them

the auto manufacturers should be pounding the table for passage of HR676.

???

K&R