General Motors said Thursday that it would continue health care coverage for striking workers, reversing an earlier decision, as the company and the United Auto Workers union negotiated a new labor contract.

The company said last week that it would cease payments providing coverage at the end of September, prompting the union to scramble to arrange temporary health insurance for the 49,000 factory and other workers who walked off the job on Sept. 16.

G.M. said it realized the pending switch was causing confusion for workers and health care providers. “Given that confusion, G.M. has chosen to work with our providers to keep all benefits fully in place for striking hourly employees, so they have no disruption to their medical care, including vision, prescription and dental coverage,” a spokesman said in an email.

In a letter to G.M. on Thursday, Terry Dittes, the union vice president leading the negotiations, complained that the automaker was “toying” with the lives of union members with the back and forth on health coverage. “There is no doubt that public sentiment sees these actions of G.M. as a shameful act!” Mr. Dittes wrote.