Toyota's Health Cost Cure: A Clinic at the Plant Site

Detroit's automakers are not the only ones grappling with soaring health-care costs. They are becoming an issue for Toyota Motor Corp., as well, as the Japanese giant expands its U.S. manufacturing operations and work force.

"Our health care costs have doubled over the past five years," to more than $11,000 a year per U.S. plant worker, said Ford Brewer, assistant general manager for health and wellness at Toyota's North American manufacturing headquarters.

In designing its newest plant, in San Antonio, Toyota is trying to tackle the problem by building a clinic at the factory to provide a wider array of treatments and services than a typical factory medical office.

The workers at the San Antonio pickup plant can have their eyes checked and their teeth repaired at the $9 million clinic, which also offers pediatric services, laboratory tests and physical therapy.

"This is a major step beyond what we've done before," Brewer said.



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skoobyfl - 11/8/2006 11:40:23 AM

+2 Boost

It's about time they do something about it, this is another toyota innovation.

EL34 - 11/8/2006 12:18:39 PM

-1 Boost

Does Toyota hire Union workers for the manufacture plants here in America?

Agent009 - 11/8/2006 1:48:18 PM

+1 Boost

I believe so, but at a reduced rate compared to the big three.

XYZZ - 11/9/2006 3:33:13 AM

+1 Boost

toyota's FIRST operation in the u.s. (fremont, ca) was with uaw workers.

sold2early - 11/8/2006 4:14:25 PM

+1 Boost

Toyota's U.S. plants are non-union (as are all of the other non-American brands with plants in the U.S.)

That's why the big 3 have a $1500+ per car cost disadvantage to Toyota and others.

bigslick83 - 11/8/2006 9:35:17 PM

0 Boost

wtf this is dumb. do you really think you will ever get disablity or workmans comp from a doctor who works for the company that pays you the benifits??????

i can see it now "Dr so-n-so last month you cost us $25,000. if you can just tell people nothings wrong with them, you can still have a job.

their is a reason why this is not in place. because it will not work effectivly (for the employee) another way toyota is raping the american economy by "supporting" american workers with in-house medical benifits. "sure you can go see another doctor, but dont expect us to pay for it sucker!" and guess where all this money per employee they are saving is going? you guessed it right back to the japanesse godzilla defense program.

bigslick83 - 11/9/2006 11:17:04 AM

+1 Boost

lmao at ricemasters comment.

as for you huu76 what im refering to is that the only health benifits they will get is to see the dr at the clinic and he is on company payroll this is why back when unions actually helped workers they banned this practice. unions have not always been bad they have just grown decedant in the last 3 decades. but before that company doctors were normal practice and advized against law suits and the pursute of disability and workers comp.