The Detroit News reports that General Motors retirees blasted a proposed settlement that will help cut the struggling automaker's health care tab by $1 billion a year by shifting some costs to hourly retirees. GM and the United Auto Workers negotiated the deal last year. Active GM hourly workers approved the settlement by a 61% margin in November, but GM needs the approval of the federal court to go forward with the plan since it covers retirees, who didn't get to vote. Under the plan retirees would be responsible for monthly contributions, deductibles and co-payments for medical services up to a maximum of $370 a year for individuals and $752 for a family (with costs rising 3% or so per year).

Fun Facts: GM is the largest single private purchaser of health care in the United States, provides health care for 1 in every 271 Americans and spent $5.4 billion last year on health care.

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