Health care for GM adds $1400 per vehicle!!!

[Analog]

DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.


Text

 

[phonemonkey]

Ouch. I wonder how much the other car companies pay out (ie: Toyota, Honda, BMW, etc), and how much it costs us per car for that.

 

[StageLeft]

a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

That's funny, considering that the average car sold today is now the highest its ever been, with an MSRP at $30k.

 

[Thegonagle]

Oh, cry me a river! Until we get our collective asses in gear and stamp out the ass-fscking health-care-for-profit stealing-ass-middlemen--I mean health-insurance companies for good, that's the cost of doing business. (Unless you think everyone in the "greatest" country in the world should just go without health care.) Our system won't be fixed for a long, long time at the rate we're going.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Oh, cry me a river! Until we get our collective asses in gear and stamp out the ass-fscking health-care-for-profit stealing-ass-middlemen--I mean health-insurance companies for good, that's the cost of doing business. (Unless you think everyone in the "greatest" country in the world should just go without health care.) Our system won't be fixed for a long, long time at the rate we're going.

Health Insurance is bad? You think most people can self-finance there own healthcare? The problem is not the system. The problem is people think they deserve access to the world's best healthcare system for free...

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Oh, cry me a river! Until we get our collective asses in gear and stamp out the ass-fscking health-care-for-profit stealing-ass-middlemen--I mean health-insurance companies for good, that's the cost of doing business. (Unless you think everyone in the "greatest" country in the world should just go without health care.) Our system won't be fixed for a long, long time at the rate we're going.

Health Insurance is bad? You think most people can self-finance there own healthcare? The problem is not the system. The problem is people think they deserve access to the world's best healthcare system for free...

I think he means health care for the collective good or not for profit.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
Oh, cry me a river! Until we get our collective asses in gear and stamp out the ass-fscking health-care-for-profit stealing-ass-middlemen--I mean health-insurance companies for good, that's the cost of doing business. (Unless you think everyone in the "greatest" country in the world should just go without health care.) Our system won't be fixed for a long, long time at the rate we're going.

Health Insurance is bad? You think most people can self-finance there own healthcare? The problem is not the system. The problem is people think they deserve access to the world's best healthcare system for free...

I think he means health care for the collective good or not for profit.

Then you've got the gov't running it. That's always efficient

Union wages and retirement crap are basically killing domestic manufacturers of cars from what I've read.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Yeah with the goverment running health care instead of paying an extra $1400 for a car we would just be paying an extra $3000 in taxes

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Yeah with the goverment running health care instead of paying an extra $1400 for a car we would just be paying an extra $3000 in taxes

Well, that's not necessarily the best plan, but G-d damn it, something needs to be done differently IMO.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I think he means health care for the collective good or not for profit.

That's pretty much what I'm talking about. There's nothing wrong with the docs and nurses getting paid, but the insurance companies take such a huge cut off the top for themselves that it becomes rather inefficient from a patient's point of view.

Furthermore, my uncle?s a doc and he?s miserable working in the current system because of all the insurance BS. He once owned his own practice, but got out and went to work for a clinic (which he makes clear that he doesn't enjoy) because he can at least draw a salary instead of worrying whether one patient's after another's insurance companies were ever going to pay him for the services he provided.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I think he means health care for the collective good or not for profit.

That's pretty much what I'm talking about. There's nothing wrong with the docs and nurses getting paid, but the insurance companies take such a huge cut off the top for themselves that it becomes rather inefficient from a patient's point of view.

Furthermore, my uncle?s a doc and he?s miserable working in the current system because of all the insurance BS. He once owned his own practice, but got out and went to work for a clinic (which he makes clear that he doesn't enjoy) because he can at least draw a salary instead of worrying whether one patient's after another's insurance companies were ever going to pay him for the services he provided.

Somebody has to skim, whether it's doctors or government. Frankly I've more faith in the efficiency of a private business than government, which answers to nobody in many cases. If a government enterprise is doing poorly they just up taxes. If a private one is doing poorly they go bankrupt. The latter situation encourages efficiency.

 

[CPA]

Remove 3rd party payees.

Go back to cash system.

Bring back competition.

Problem solved.

 

[The Sauce]

The John Edwards' of the world are responsible for at least half that cost... probably more.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: CPA
Remove 3rd party payees.

Go back to cash system.

Bring back competition.

Problem solved.

Question...

A drug cost a pharmacy 100 dollars. They sell it for 105. The drug is on patent, and nothing less will do the job.

Your suggestion solves this problem how?

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

Just don't buy domestic.

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

Does your employer provide medical benefits? Do you wish they did?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

Just don't buy domestic.

LOL a lot of so called Imports are made here in the USA by Union Workers

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

LOL a lot of so called Imports are made here in the USA by Union Workers
yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

Just don't buy domestic.

Hmm, I think your quoting screwed in regards to what jedi said

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'd like to see what the other auto manuf health care cost per vehicle is before I sound off on this...

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Dr Smooth

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

Does your employer provide medical benefits? Do you wish they did?

$1400 per vehicle almost sounds reasonible. Considering the number of employees GM has compared to the number of cars they produce and the cost of healthcare, it doesn't seem all that surprising to me.

The real question is: How much per vehicle is wasted on union contracts that allow for boneheaded liberties like pay even when they aren't working?

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

sounds like a bullsh!t figure to me.

 

[Red Dawn]

It makes sense since the cost of wages to make the vehicle is part of the overall cost.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Dr Smooth

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

Does your employer provide medical benefits? Do you wish they did?

I'm not saying don't provide health insurance. I'm saying get rid of the workers (ie: union) and automate the process more. give the remaining workers health insurance, but since there's going to be 1/10th the amount of workers, health insurance would only add $140 to my car bill instead of $1400.

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: Dr Smooth

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
DETROIT ? General Motors Corp. is expected to report this week that its future obligation for employee and retiree health care topped $60 billion last year, and new Medicare legislation will do little to reduce the expenses.

The crushing health care burden will be detailed in GM?s year-end financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said.

The $60 billion figure represents a sharp increase in the automaker?s projected obligations from 2002. In recent months, GM officials have said soaring health care spending has become the leading factor undermining the automaker?s competitiveness.

GM?s health care costs now account for $1,400 per vehicle, a severe handicap as the world?s biggest automaker battles to recover market share in an environment of falling vehicle prices.

Text

yup..damn unions making my cars more expensive..AUTOMATE!!!!!!

Does your employer provide medical benefits? Do you wish they did?

I'm not saying don't provide health insurance. I'm saying get rid of the workers (ie: union) and automate the process more. give the remaining workers health insurance, but since there's going to be 1/10th the amount of workers, health insurance would only add $140 to my car bill instead of $1400.

So, if would be okay with you if they eliminated your health benefits and or job?