Unions as healthcare providers?

[Nexus7]

About these news reports talking about the fund GM & UAW are setting up to
provide health-care - I'm not clear how that health-care is provided. Is
it the union(s) contracting with the health-insurance/care vendors such as
Cigna, BBSIL, etc. (just like a lot of businesses do) - in order to obtain
the benefits of having a large pool of customers in a group health plan?

Most, if not all the problems with the accessibility of health-care in the
US are because of the free market model, and going away from that model
(to single payer or nationalized health, or whatever) isn't immediately
feasible, as seen from the lobbying push-back against the slightest
reform. And at this time, the Obama administration's efforts seem to
be restricted to getting a better deal for Medicaid, and computerizing
records (which seems to reward health-care providers who haven't yet done
so). There don't seem to be any efforts towards any unified health-care
system.

So, cradle-to-grave health-care is going to be pipe dream for some time
in the US. With that said, I was wondering why the unions themselves do
not provide health-care. It would fit in with broader union objectives of
empowering workers. It can be implemented to eliminate the free-loader
"management" and "gatekeeper" functions, instead letting physicians
set standards and protocols. Sixty-plus percent of doctors support
single-payer, so they wouldn't be averse to it. And it could be available
universally, because larger pools are better.

Apparently some unions do operate health-care systems, but what I'm asking
is about a system that is effectively under-written and operated by the
unions, yet open to anyone (of course, there'd be sensible membership rules,
exclusions for injuries whose costs belong elsewhere - wars, for example).
But unlike in the US, unions in Europe fought for rights for everyone,
and this would be more along those lines. You might ask, why should the unions
do this? I would ask in return whether or not the unions want to be relevant;
and if they want to live up their ideals.

[PHIMG]

1. One Nation, One Plan - HR 676

Ask your self why some people should have great insurance and some people should have less than? Healthcare is a right. Everyone should have the same access to high quality healthcare with no out of pocket expense. The way to do this is with a publicly funded privately delivered healthcare system that is paid for with progressive taxation and other targeted taxes. HR 676 is the solution. Sadly the politicians are in bed with the big insureres and PhRMA. HR 676 would generate massive costs savings from streamlined administration, enough to pay for all the uninsured.

The United States National Health Insurance Act - HR 676 “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All”

Choice. Most private insurance restricts your choice of providers and hospitals. Under the U.S. National Health Insurance Act, patients have a choice, and the provider is assured a fair payment.

No Interference with Care. Caregivers and patients regain their autonomy to decide what's best for a patient's health, not what's dictated by the billing department. No denial of coverage for preexisting conditions or cancellation of policies for "unreported" minor health problems.

Portability. If you are unemployed, or lose or change jobs, your health coverage stays with you.

Uniform Benefits. No Cadillac plans for the wealthy and Pinto plans for everyone else, with high deductibles, limited services, caps on payments for care, and no protection in the event of a catastrophe. One level of comprehensive care for everyone, regardless of the size of your wallet.

Prevention. By removing financial roadblocks, a universal health system encourages preventive care that lowers an individual's ultimate cost and pain and suffering when problems are neglected and societal cost in the over-utilization of emergency rooms or the spread of communicable diseases.

Everybody In, Nobody Out. Universal means access to health care for everyone residing in the U.S., period.

Reducing Waste. One third of every private health insurance dollar goes for paperwork and profits, compared to about 3% under Medicare, the federal government’s universal system for senior citizen healthcare.

Cost Savings. A guaranteed health care system can produce the cost savings needed to cover everyone, largely by using existing resources without the waste. Taiwan, shifting from a U.S. private health care model, adopted a similar system in 1995, boosting health coverage from 57% to 97% with little increase in overall health care spending.

Common Sense Budgeting. The public system sets fair reimbursements applied equally to all providers, private and public, while assuring that appropriate health care is delivered, and uses its clout to negotiate volume discounts for prescription drugs and medical equipment.

Public Oversight. The public sets the policies and administers the system, not high priced CEOs meeting in private.