The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73695

James Maxwell, PhD, JSI Research & Training Institute, 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210, 617-482-9485, maxwell@jsi.com

This study is the first to compare health care purchasing in the retail versus other sectors of the Fortune 500. Employing millions of low-wage workers, the retail sector is the largest employer of uninsured workers in the economy. We found that retail companies are using the same competitive bidding process that other companies use to obtain a given level of coverage for the lowest possible cost. However, they are more price oriented than other Fortune 500 companies are. The most striking disparity lies in the nearly five-fold difference in offer rates for health care coverage. This shows that the economy's bifurcation in health benefits extends even to the nation's largest companies.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the differences in health benefits strategies between the retail and other sectors
• To understand the effects of unions and human resource policies on health benefits for active and retiree workers
• To discuss alternative mechanisms for expanding coverage for low wage workers in the retail and other sectors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.