Monthly Archive for January, 2009

State Seal of Iowa

A report (pdf) by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Insurance outlines a demonstration project that would provide health insurance for up to 250 direct care workers through a voluntary employer-sponsored plan.  The report was a directive of HF 2539, a health insurance reform bill passed during the 2008 legislative session. Continue reading ‘Pilot Health Plan for Iowa Direct-Care Workers Moving Forward’

Last week, the Maine Direct Care Worker Coalition was successful in getting a bill introduced for a pilot program for health care coverage for direct care workers.  The bill was sponsored by Senator Nancy Sullivan, co-chair of the Insurance and Financial Services Committee.  Senator Sullivan became a champion for direct care worker issues after a strong hearing on a bill (pdf) addressing health care for DCWs heard by the committee last year.  The bill echoed the recent recommendation of the Bureau of Insurance. Continue reading ‘Health Care for Direct Care Workers Bill Introduced in Maine’

I work for Passavant Retirement Assisted Living Facility and get health insurance through my employer. Even though I have health insurance, it doesn’t cover my medical needs.

 My doctor would like me to have blood work done because of the medications I take.  I refuse to this because my insurance doesn’t cover those tests and my out of pocket expenses would be too high. I make $15 dollars an hour, and pay $50 dollars a week for my health insurance.  In the past, when I have gotten tests done, I have had to pay a lot out of my own pocket.  It cost me $125 dollars, and if I did that every 3 months, it would be costing me $500 dollars a year. It took me 3 months to pay off that $125, and by the time I paid it off, it was time for another test that I could not afford.

We need more direct care workers that are willing to speak out about their issues with health insurance so that our legislators and the media are more aware of these problems.

Pat Downing
Direct Care Worker
Prospect, PA

In October, the Philadelphia Inquirer covered the story of Karen Goroncy, a direct care worker who goes without health care coverage as she cares for those who need her help.  In a follow up story last week, the Inquirer reported that a generous reader has offered to cover Karen’s costs of health insurance so that she can get the surgery she needs. Continue reading ‘PA Direct Care Worker Raises the Profile of Uninsured’

The Maine Bureau of Insurance recently issued its long awaited report Health Insurance Coverage for Maine’s Direct Care Workers  (pdf) and recommends the development of a pilot program to cover a segment of the direct-care workforce.  The report was the work of a working group convened over the summer by the Superintendent of Insurance at the direction of the Insurance and Financial Services Committee.  Several direct care workers, providers and advocates participated in the group.  Continue reading ‘Maine Bureau of Insurance Recommends Pilot Program for Health Insurance’

I hear it all the time when I talk to co-workers.  “We need health insurance,” they always say to me. The drawback is the funding. With Maine’s budget the way it is, I honestly will be very surprised to see if the Legislature follows Ms. Kofman’s recommendation on the pilot.  But I am hopeful.

The Bureau of Insurance report on options for providing health insurance to Maine’s direct care workers is finally complete and recommends that a pilot program be developed for covering direct care workers in our state. Having been involved in the process of producing the report, I think the recommendation of a pilot is great as it would be a way to show employers and policy makers that health insurance is important to this workforce.

Continue reading ‘My View: Helen Hanson on Advocacy and the Maine Report’

A testimonial by Eunice Spooner, a home care consumer in Sidney, Maine:

My name is Eunice Spooner, I’m a member of First Congregational Church in Waterville, and I live in Sidney. I was a school teacher until a car crash left me a quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair over 20 years ago. Since then, I have had many blessings in my life – wonderful family, friends, and caregivers, the chance to be a deacon at church, a volunteer at the Atwood Elementary School, and a member of the SAD #47 School Board. Still, the fact is that I cannot get through my day without a lot of assistance throughout the day, from getting up, doing light housework, driving to appointments, going me to bed and even using the bathroom. Continue reading ‘Worries About Losing Her Caregivers’