The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-01-09
Fight For Health
THE TRUTH ABOUT GROUP
HEALTH INSURANCE

tribution, criticized these plans fol
failing to give union members rea
health security, and suggested 9
better method. This is a prepay
ment medical service plan, as com.
prehensive as possible in it's bene-
fits including preventive services
and organized to provide these
services by group practice of medi.
cine.
This is already taking place ir
st. Louis. In that city, the Joint
Board of the United Retail, Whole
sale & Department Store Employ
ees owns and operates it's owr
medical center called the Labor
Health Institute, staffed by its
own "Aneral practitioners ano
specialists.
! ~ is financed entirely by the
employers, who support it with q
3.5 per cent payroll tax. 1t was
achieved through collective bar
gaining. The union could have got
half-baked group insurance plan
if the members had wanted one
The employers would have prefer
red it. But the members decided
to hold out for the genuine article
and they are glad they did!
These St. Louis unionists are en-
| joying a brand of medical care
which is truly making history
When they want a doctor, they
don't have to worry about where
to find one who is not too busy to
see them and whose fees are not
too stiff. They go straight to their
own modern health center, with its
20 family physicians and special
lists, each one handpicked by the
medical director for his feeling to-
ward working people, as well as
for professional competence.
The medical director himself is
appointed by the union. Each mem
ber chooses one of the staff doc
tors as his personal physician, but
they all work as a group, con-
stantly comparing notes and ex-
changing information. No matter
which doctor is the members own,
he enjoys the benefits of their
pooled knowledge and skills.
The health center is equipped
with the most up-to-date appara-
tus, to enable the doctors to prac-
tice scientific medicine of the high
est quality, which only the rich
can afford when it has to be paid
for individually.
There are also dentists, nurses,
technicians, social workers and
health educators, all on the staff,
and all willing and able to help
each member with whatever prob
lem he may have-physical, men
tal,, emotional, economic or social
which may prevent him from en-
joying the fullest degree Of health.
Prevention is the keynote of the
program. Every day more and
more workers are learning to come
to their health center, not after
they get sick, but while they are
still well, to learn how to stay well.
Such a plan can easily be ex-
panded to provide benefits for de-
pendents too, and it can set the
pattern for medical services under
system of national health insur-
ance. 1t could continue to operate
under a national program, still
providing the same high quality of
service to the union members. The
only difference would be that the
money for its operating expenses
would come out of the national in
surance fund.
1t is perfectly true that more
than one union. which now has
group insurance coverage as a
second choice, did first try to
establish a medical service pro-
gram. Now the need for union ac-
tion, short of state and federal
NB BioidtioIi, 10 fioIt acute tIldH
ever. Fortunately, organizations
exist which stand ready to help.
Chief among these is the Labor
Project for Medical Care, 1928 Eye
ST., N. W., Washington, d. C.
This newly-formed outfit con-
sists of representatives of labor,
with technical advice and assist
ance from doctors who are SYM
pathetic to unions and from gov
ernment officials, all of whom
have had experience in dealing
with the medical care problems of
union members.
These experts have organized to
advise unions on how to get around
restrictive legislation, how to over
come the opposition of vested
medical interests, and on ways
and means of setting up union
sponsored medical care programs.
They aim at substantial financial
contributions by employers and eff
fective participation by unions in
the operation of the plans.
If this sounds like your meat,