County Proposes To Cover Uninsured Employees
Santa Clara County is proposing to extend access to its health and hospital network to small businesses that do not offer health coverage, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
The "Three Share Model" plan would generate revenue from businesses by charging a $125 monthly fee per employee. The county in 2006 spent $184 million providing care to uninsured patients.
To be eligible, businesses:
- Must have fewer than 50 employees, 35% of whom have annual incomes that do not exceed $30,000;
- Do not have a temporary workforce; and
- Can offer the plan only to employees who live and work in the county.