SACRAMENTO >> The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA) recently joined the growing list of labor unions opposing a November ballot measure that would give the state insurance commissioner sweeping power over health care benefits, rates and co-pays, complicating health care coverage for individuals and small businesses, according to Robin Swanson.
During the past month, the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers announced their opposition to the measure as well.
“This measure does nothing to control costs for union health and welfare trusts and, in fact, greatly increases cost pressures that could force our premiums even higher,” Sid Stolper, business manager of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16, said. “We support efforts to control health insurance costs, but this measure is not the solution and would harm millions of union-represented employees.”
UA joins a coalition of doctors, hospitals, nurses, labor organizations and small businesses that oppose the measure. Some of the organizations opposing the initiative include the California Medical Association, the California Children”s Hospital Association, the Latino Physicians of California and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, according to Swanson.
Covered California has also released a report containing a series of questions about the impact that the flawed measure would have on its ability to provide affordable coverage to millions of Californians.
The questions underscore concerns raised earlier this year by academics, policy experts and Covered California supporters, including Jon M. Kingsdale, the founding director of the country”s inaugural health benefit exchange in Massachusetts. Kingsdale”s report found that the measure would cause bureaucratic conflicts, consumer confusion, lengthy delays and barriers to care, largely because of the initiative allowing outside groups and individuals to file lengthy legal challenges against Covered California plans, Swanson stated.
For information about the campaign against the measure, visit www.stophighercosts.org.
