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George Erickcek, senior regional analyst for the nonprofit research group Upjohn Institute, said the Big Three's need to compete in a tough global marketplace makes their situation unlike those of workers in some other sectors of the economy.

"When you look at Toyota North America and then look at GM, the legacy costs between the two carmakers is huge. There are about 340,000 retirees for GM and less than 100 for Toyota North America," he said.

Erickcek does see possible problems for other work places covering health costs for many retirees. "That may cause some concern with the teachers' unions here and maybe some of the other unions," he said.

"General Motors didn't do something which is going to cause a large ripple," said Michael Chernew, professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan. Although other companies or economic sectors may also be looking for ways to lower their health care costs, "I don't think General Motors exerts a lot of downward pressure on them."

Stuart Paterson, senior research associate in Lansing with the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council of Michigan, said GM's circumstances are so unique that they don't necessarily carry over to other businesses, although he does expect more pressure to move health care costs off employers.

Most workers already are paying a share of their health care premiums, along with copays for prescription drugs and a portion of their medical bills until they reach their deductible, he said. Many already are in managed health care programs rather than more expensive fee-for-service ones.

"My guess is that you're not going to see sort of a serious attempt to say, `General Motors did this and now we're going to do it, too,'" Paterson said. "There's so much resistance on the part of the people who have the insurance."

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