WHEREAS:
Health care premiums increased an average of 11 percent in 2001 and are projected to increase by 14 percent or more in 2002. Double digit increases in overall premiums are expected to continue for at least several more years; and
WHEREAS:
State and local governments are caught between major revenue shortfalls and escalating health care costs for their employees as well as for Medicaid and other public program recipients. Health care providers such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are caught between higher health care costs for their employees and reimbursements which all too often do not cover their real costs; and
WHEREAS:
Public and private employers try to shift the cost increases onto employees and retirees. Even when the union is successful in getting the employer to cover the higher health care costs, there is less money available for wage increases and other benefits; and
WHEREAS:
Lack of health care coverage continues to be a problem. Working full time is no guarantee of health care coverage. Nearly three-fourths of the uninsured come from families with at least one full-time worker. Large numbers of part-time and seasonal workers are not even eligible to belong to the employer-sponsored health plans. Only 17 percent of the uninsured are also unemployed. As health care costs increase, the number of uninsured workers increases too; and
WHEREAS:
The Bush Administration and Congress have walked away from any effort at fundamental health care reform. All too many so-called experts define health care reform as making patients and their families pay more and more of the bill; and
WHEREAS:
There are no quick fixes to these problems. AFSCME has explored establishing a national health plan that would be sponsored by AFSCME and concluded that such an option would not work. A national AFSCME plan would require major start-up costs, would have to be negotiated employer by employer, and would suffer from adverse selection; and
WHEREAS:
U.S. House of Representatives Concurrent Resolution 99 directs Congress to enact legislation by October 2004 that provides access to comprehensive health care for all Americans.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will continue to work towards the establishment of a national health care plan that provides quality, affordable health coverage to all people. AFSCME will support House Concurrent Resolution 99. AFSCME will work to make fundamental health care reform a central issue in the 2002 and 2004 elections; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
In the meantime, AFSCME encourages affiliates to explore avenues for leveraging their purchasing power. Such avenues may include participation in existing health pools in states that allow local governments to buy into the state health plans or creation of such pools where they do not exist. They may also include participation in existing employer health care purchasing coalitions, or creation of new coalitions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME encourage affiliates to negotiate preventative health care benefits, long-term health care benefits and disease management programs that manage the care, on a voluntary basis, of individuals suffering from chronic illnesses. While neither of these programs will yield immediate savings, they can save money in the long run; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME affiliates consider offering members the AFSCME Advantage Healthsavings program as a supplement to employer-provided health coverage. This program provides discounts on dental, vision, pharmacy and foot care through a network of participating professionals.
SUBMITTED BY:
Peter Benner, Delegate
AFSCME Local 390, Council 6
Minnesota