Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

May 13, 2008 1:11:06 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

Back to the grid

Health Care Costs to US Manufacturers Skyrocket  

Posted May 7, 08 12:50 PM CDT in US,  Science & Health,  Business    Most Covered

(newser) – The cost of providing health insurance to US workers is rising so fast it can't be passed along either to workers or customers, a new study reported in the Los Angeles Times finds. Manufacturers now spend, on average, $2.38 per worker per hour—more than twice as much as their foreign competitors—adding about $1,500 to the price of a new car.

"There's no question that if employers could push this into wages they would," said one economist. "But every single year, health care costs rise faster than productivity and wages. Thus, they try to push it into prices. But with China and India competing against you, you can't do that."

Source Los Angeles Times

open commentscomments (0)

Editor Recommended

Voters: Give us affordable health care
Detroit Free Press | May 7, 08

Employers see nearly 10% jump in health care costs
NJBiz | May 5, 08

Related News

  • Health Costs Hurt Insured Americans, Too

    May 4, 08 2:31 PM CDT
    Health Costs Hurt Insured Americans, Too Even Americans with health insurance are ducking the doctor these days as health costs rise and the economy stays queasy, the New York Times reports. Family premiums have doubled in recent years, and out-of-pocket costs have gone up, too: “It just keeps eating into people’s income,” said a utility worker in Tucson whose medical bills have risen by about $4,000 a year.
    More »

  • Chrysler Will Shut Down for 2 Weeks

    Mar 13, 08 1:32 PM CDT
    Chrysler Will Shut Down for 2 Weeks Chrysler plans to shut down all operations for two weeks in July to save money and “accelerate Chrysler's recovery and transformation,” CEO Robert Nardelli writes in a company memo. Employees will take a forced break July 7-20 “in order to create better alignment and efficiency across organizational lines and boost productivity,” says the memo, obtained by the Wall Street Journal. More »

  • UAW Gears Up for Contract Talks on Health Care

    Jul 19, 07 9:11 PM CDT
    UAW Gears Up for Contract Talks on Health Care The United Automobile Workers Union starts high-stakes contract talks with Detroit automakers tomorrow, at a time when the union counts more retirees than active workers in its ranks—meaning higher health-care costs—and the American automotive industry is in dire financial straits. The talks are being called "the most important in a generation," the Times reports. More »

Health Care Costs to US Manufacturers Skyrocket
Graphic shows increase in health care costs over time.   (AP Photo)
Health Care Costs to US Manufacturers Skyrocket
A protest against high health care costs in front of the Aetna's headquarters in Hartford, Conn.   (AP Photo/Bob Child)
Health Care Costs to US Manufacturers Skyrocket
Walter Lino uses a wrench on a wheel assembly of a New York City subway car at the Kawasaki manufacturing facility in Yonkers, N.Y.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
prev   next
play

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

auto industry  • manufacturing  • health care costs  • health insurance costs


Loading...

Loading...

Related Threads: Public Health, Health Care Costs

Next story from this section »

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Business Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »