Care plan gap seen for many workers

[Eugene]

Source: Boston Globe

Care plan gap seen for many workers
Low-wage earners who can't afford company benefit
ineligible for aid

By Alice Dembner, Globe Staff | May 19, 2007

As many as 30,000 low-wage workers face a Catch-22 that could leave
them uninsured, despite the state's new healthcare initiative.

They can't afford the insurance offered by their employers, yet they
aren't eligible for state subsidies because their employer offers
coverage.

"It's totally and completely unfair," said Sandy O'Brien, 53, who hasn't
had insurance for years.

-snip-

Dunkin' Donuts offers her insurance, but on a yearly income of about
$15,000, she can't afford the monthly premium of $98. She sees other
people with equally low wages signing up for the new state- subsidized
insurance plans. But she's not eligible.

The state law requiring every adult to have coverage by July 1 is
structured to encourage work-based insurance. Anyone who is offered
coverage through work, no matter how expensive, is excluded from the
state plans.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/other/articles/2007/05/19/care_plan_gap_seen_for_many_workers