SAN FRANCISCO: Home Care Workers Eligible for Public Health Plan
San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (D), a long-time advocate of health care coverage for the uninsured, yesterday announced that independent home care workers will be eligible for health care benefits through the San Francisco Health Plan, "a nonprofit agency that provides health care for low-income residents." The San Francisco Chronicle reports that for $3 a month, the mostly minimum-wage-earning home care workers will qualify for prenatal and vision care, discounted prescription drugs, family planning and other benefits as long as they work 25 hours a month. As of March 1, as many as 5,500 people under the umbrella of the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority became eligible for the benefits, and so far, 1,000 have joined the plan. The Chronicle reports that the Public Authority was able to extend the benefits with $1.6 million from the city Department of Public Health and contributions from the federal government (Wilson, 3/10).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.