Health Care for Health Care Workers

Some states subsidize small employers to reduce the cost of their health insurance premiums. While employer subsidies are intended to help employers insure more workers, initial experience suggests (pdf) that they do not have the desired effect. Other states and local organizations have successfully expanded coverage by paying subsidies directly to low-wage workers to help them cover their share of employer-sponsored insurance premiums or buy individual coverage.

Examples

• A federal and state partnership to subsidize insurance premiums for Massachusetts fisherman.
• The New York Home Care Workers Health Insurance Demonstration Project. Analysis of the project (pdf).
• Maine’s DirigoChoice health Insurance plan which is one part of Dirigo Health.