The Oregon public employe., April 01, 2002, Page 8, Image 8

M e e tin g H e a lth c a r e 's C h a lle n g e
H
ealthcare. We worry about
cost Availability and
accessibility. Quality.
What benefits are we going to have? What
For more than 20 years, under the Bargaining
older workers who are ready to retire must
Unit Benefits Board (BUBB), we have
keep working to maintain their health insur­
designed the healthcare benefit plan our •
ance coverage until they qualify for Medicare.
Union and our labor •
might I lose? Which plan is best for me?
contract provided
Where can I find the kind of long-term care
represented state
...w e are growing concerned about the affordability
my parents need? What if my child gets sick
employees the
o f health care in the future and the rapidly growing
and I'm told my plan doesn't cover him? Can
Union represented.
I afford it? Always, always, "Can I afford it?"
Now, under the
Healthcare. You can't live without it.
Sometimes, it seems we can't live with it.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU members are
Family Premiums Increasing
source: The Oregonian, Families USA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Wall Street Journal
number o f uninsured workers and children in Oregon.
Public Employee
Benefits Board (PEBB), we share that authority
The problem for all of us today is:
with other union representatives (as well as
♦ The growing number of uninsured;
management), but we still have a great deal
especially the working poor, children and
of responsibility for shaping something that
those who are recently unemployed.
has a significant affect on our compensation
♦ Quality concerns; especially in nursing
and our quality o f life.
Continued on Page 22..
While most of us feel good about the
care we receive from our own family doctors
and hospitals, we are growing concerned
■ Family Health
Insurance Premium
Drug company profits almost four times as large as
those of other Fortune 500 Companies
(source: Fortune Magazine from companies’ annual reports) .
about the affordability of health care in the
future and the rapidly growing number of
uninsured workers and children in Oregon.
* Family health insurance premiums
will rise to more than $8,000 this year.
■ Pharmaceutical
Companies
■ Fortune 500
Companies
The price of health insurance premi­
ums impacts every SEIU Local 503, OPEU
2/3 of Oregonians without health insurance have
full-time worker in their household
(Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)
member when we are at the bargaining
table, every time we go to the doctor or buy
prescription drugs, in some way, nearly
every day of our lives. We face the cost of
I# of Non-Elder ly
Uninsured
(source: Wallstreet Journal and * e Center for Studvine Health System Cbanae)
healthcare every day because i f s contained
in the cost of goods and services we buy
11999
12000
and the taxes we pay.
With a Full-Tim e W ithout a Full-time
W o r k e r in th e
W orker in the
H ousehold
Household
A number o f factors are
increasing overall health care costs
There are almost 500,000 uninsured
Oregonians, the vast majority of whom are
working and
paying taxes, but
The price o f health insurance premiums im pact every
SEIU Local 503, OPEU member when we are a t the
don't have
health insurance
provided by
their employers
bargaining table...
M M W B iH iM H iiM i
for themselves
or their children,
knowledgeable and responsible users of
yet they earn too much to qualify for the
healthcare. But, we can't alone take on the
Oregon Health Plan. The cost of an
challenge to make quality healthcare acces­
unisured's person's visit to a hospital emer­
sible, affordable and secure alone— and we
gency room is part of the cost insured patients
are not.
pay for hospital stays. Additionally, many
PACE 8 THE OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
WHERE DO BRAND-NAME DRUG MAKERS* PRIORITIES UE?
Expanding Marketing Staff While Research Staff Decline», 1995-2000