AcademyHealth Stateside - 11/30/2006 (Plain Text Version)In this issue: Utah Modifies Program to Help Uninsured Workers Participate in Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
On November 1, the Utah Department of Health began enrollment in a new program designed to help low income workers participate in their employers’ health insurance plans. “Low income workers will receive a subsidy to help pay their monthly health insurance premiums,” explains Nathan Checketts, director of Utah’s Bureau of Access. Under Utah’s Premium Partnership for Health Insurance (UPP), qualified individuals and families can receive up to $150 per adult and $100 per child on a monthly basis to help defray the cost of insurance premiums. During its initial stage, the program provides funding for up to 1,000 adults with incomes up to $2,075 a month for a family of three, as well as 250 children, whose family income can be up to $2,767 for a family of three. The program is aimed at the 34,000 Utahns who are uninsured, full-time workers and who choose not to enroll in their employers’ health care coverage plans because they cannot afford the monthly premium. State officials view the program as an important step in lowering the number of uninsured Utahns. UPP replaces an earlier program, “Covered at Work” that offered a monthly premium subsidy of only $50. “We found that $50 was just not enough to encourage workers to sign up. Now, with a $150 monthly premium subsidy under UPP, we know we’re in the right price range in terms of making health insurance premiums affordable,” says Checketts. Checketts cautions that the state may still face logistical and communications challenges in terms of enrollment. The Utah Department of Health has launched a comprehensive print and media campaign designed to reach the target audience and to educate and train community partners. Initial response to the program is encouraging, with more than 170 applications received in the first ten days the program was offered. To learn more about UPP, click on www.health.utah.gov/upp |