July, 2000

Many employers battle with the cost of health insurance coverage for their employees and their families. To compound the difficulty, many employees are part-time or seasonal workers who do not qualify for coverage. Now there is help available for employers and employees who need to cover children under the age of 19.

Now through Healthy Families, a federally funded HMO-style insurance program, help is available for families that qualify. For example, a family of four with an annual income of $42,625 would qualify for the program.

Healthy Families is administered through Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield. The program offers a wide panel of physicians and hospitals in Stanislaus County from which to choose. The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) estimates over 50,000 Stanislaus County residents are without health insurance. A recent study published by the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 82% of California's uninsured are comprised of families with at least one working adult. HSA Managing Director Bev Finley states, "We believe that many families without insurance would qualify for the Healthy Families program without any cost to their employer."

Finley added that employers are a vital link to getting information on Healthy Families to their employees. "Hanging up a Healthy Families poster, passing out flyers to employees and making them aware of a phone number they can call to get more information would be a giant step that an employer could take in helping their employees to get coverage," Finley noted.

The HSA, as well as many other community organizations and brokers, have certified staff available to come to your organization to speak with those employees who do not qualify for an employer sponsored plan. For more information on the Healthy Families program, call the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency at 558-7116 or the Parent Resource Center at 549-8193.

Used by permission of Modesto Progress