Bill Overview
Title: Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act
Description: This bill prohibits an employer from terminating or altering the employer-provided health insurance coverage of an employee during the period that the employer is taking action to lock out, suspend, or otherwise withhold employment from the employee in order to influence the position of such employee or the representative of such employee in collective bargaining prior to a strike. An employer that violates this prohibition is generally subject to a maximum civil penalty of $75,000 for each violation.
Sponsors: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Target Audience
Population: Workers affected by employer lockouts during collective bargaining
Estimated Size: 600000
- Workers who are impacted by employer lockouts during collective bargaining processes will be directly impacted by this legislation as it ensures continuation of their health insurance coverage.
- Collective bargaining situations often occur in industries with a strong presence of labor unions, suggesting that unionized workers are predominantly in the target population.
- Health insurance stability is a critical benefit for these individuals, particularly during prolonged lockouts when regular income is disrupted.
- The legislation may indirectly impact the families of locked-out workers who could otherwise be affected by a lapse in health insurance coverage.
- The entities directly affected are those in collective bargaining disputes, particularly in sectors prone to strikes and lockouts, such as manufacturing, education, healthcare, transportation, and public services.
- Estimates for impacted population size should consider the number of annual lockouts and average size of impacted workforce in the U.S and globally.
Reasoning
- Workers in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation, who are often unionized and face lockouts, will be the main beneficiaries of the policy.
- The legislation primarily helps those in states with strong union presence and frequent labor disputes, providing crucial health insurance coverage during lockouts.
- Those with family obligations or pre-existing health conditions may experience greater relief or appreciation for the policy, as it protects their health care access during uncertain times.
- We expect a higher impact in high-cost healthcare states where losing insurance coverage would be more detrimental.
- The policy's benefit is mostly experienced during active lockouts, which suggests temporal impacts aligned with the frequency and duration of lockouts.
- Considering the budget size, the policy must focus on significant lockout scenarios affecting larger workforces.
Simulated Interviews
Auto factory worker (Ohio)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy gives us some peace of mind. During lockouts, the threat of losing our health insurance was always terrifying, especially with kids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Nurse (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Lockouts were always a stressful period because I rely heavily on my health insurance for my child’s medication. The policy is a lifesaver.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Manufacturing director (Michigan)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see this policy helping much; it's just another way unions get their way and drive up costs for us managers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Public school teacher (New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having the assurance that my health coverage stays intact if we must take to a picket line or face a lockout is immensely helpful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Oil field technician (Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't affect me directly, but if it pushes companies to negotiate in good faith, it's positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Public transportation worker (Illinois)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing my health insurance won't be disrupted helps me focus on planning for retirement without constant worry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Steel worker (Pennsylvania)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've experienced how hard it can get during a lockout, and this policy ensures my family isn't left without coverage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
School administrator (Florida)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though I'm not directly affected, my husband’s work during bargaining will be less stressful knowing his health insurance is protected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Healthcare worker (New Jersey)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy provides a safety net which is crucial, especially considering contract renewals can lead to standoffs and insurance can be at risk.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Retired auto worker (Michigan)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm retired, but during my working years, I saw many colleagues struggle when locked out. This policy would've been a huge relief back then.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $30600000, High: $71400000)
Year 3: $52020000 (Low: $31212000, High: $72828000)
Year 5: $54000000 (Low: $33300000, High: $74700000)
Year 10: $59000000 (Low: $36300000, High: $81700000)
Year 100: $120000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $165000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy primarily affects sectors with high union presence, such as manufacturing and public services.
- Legal compliance and potential challenges from employers will factor significantly into the costs.
- Inflation could impact the administrative costs over time, especially in healthcare-associated spending.
- Balance between ensuring healthcare coverage and penalizing employer non-compliance needs thorough policy design.