2008 Woodie Awards
Butler Co. will assist uninsured
Allison Cole
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Community
As of September, Butler County will be the first in Ohio to implement a healthcare program geared toward assisting the working uninsured.
According to Butler County Commissioner Greg Jolivette, the HealthShare-Select program is an employer based, limited benefits plan designed to help the 30-40,000 uninsured working residents of Butler County.
"The goal (of the program) is to get people into the health system who have not been in it for the last six months," Jolivette said.
According to Jolivette, the HealthShare-Select is limited benefits in the fact that it does not cover major medical needs. Instead, the program sets a limit on how much each service, doctors' visits and hospital stays, for example, will provide. Jolivette said the values of services are good for one year.
The program will work on an employer-based system. An employer can sign up for the plan and will receive payroll deductions. Jolivette said each individual employee then has the option of participating in the plan.
Jolivette calls this a unique plan because it takes into consideration the self-employed. The plan allows companies as small as one employee to participate, whereas traditional plans require more than one or two people. This means the employee would not have to pay out-of-pocket for services.
"From an employer's standpoint, this is a good program to attract and retain employees," Jolivette said.
Bill Morse, special projects manager with the Butler County Department of Job and Family Services, said the mission of the HealthShare-Select program is to serve the needs of the working uninsured. He calls the program a first step for people into healthcare coverage.
"We hope to educate the uninsured about healthcare: when to seek it, how to use benefits, and how to deal with quality of life issues," Morse said.
Jolivette said there are requirements people must meet to qualify for HealthShare-Select. He said they must be working in Butler County and not have had insurance for the past six months. In addition, an individual must have an income under $30,000 a year, and a family must have an income of under $50,000 a year. Employers wishing to use the program have to be willing to do the payroll deduction.
The idea for HealthShare-Select came to Jolivette after he discovered a similar program in Michigan. He said he hopes this program will become a model throughout Ohio.
Morse echoes Jolivette's thoughts about the program. He hopes the plan can serve as a pilot for all of Ohio, though Morse said he recognizes that it will take hard work and practical solutions.
According to Butler County Commissioner Greg Jolivette, the HealthShare-Select program is an employer based, limited benefits plan designed to help the 30-40,000 uninsured working residents of Butler County.
"The goal (of the program) is to get people into the health system who have not been in it for the last six months," Jolivette said.
According to Jolivette, the HealthShare-Select is limited benefits in the fact that it does not cover major medical needs. Instead, the program sets a limit on how much each service, doctors' visits and hospital stays, for example, will provide. Jolivette said the values of services are good for one year.
The program will work on an employer-based system. An employer can sign up for the plan and will receive payroll deductions. Jolivette said each individual employee then has the option of participating in the plan.
Jolivette calls this a unique plan because it takes into consideration the self-employed. The plan allows companies as small as one employee to participate, whereas traditional plans require more than one or two people. This means the employee would not have to pay out-of-pocket for services.
"From an employer's standpoint, this is a good program to attract and retain employees," Jolivette said.
Bill Morse, special projects manager with the Butler County Department of Job and Family Services, said the mission of the HealthShare-Select program is to serve the needs of the working uninsured. He calls the program a first step for people into healthcare coverage.
"We hope to educate the uninsured about healthcare: when to seek it, how to use benefits, and how to deal with quality of life issues," Morse said.
Jolivette said there are requirements people must meet to qualify for HealthShare-Select. He said they must be working in Butler County and not have had insurance for the past six months. In addition, an individual must have an income under $30,000 a year, and a family must have an income of under $50,000 a year. Employers wishing to use the program have to be willing to do the payroll deduction.
The idea for HealthShare-Select came to Jolivette after he discovered a similar program in Michigan. He said he hopes this program will become a model throughout Ohio.
Morse echoes Jolivette's thoughts about the program. He hopes the plan can serve as a pilot for all of Ohio, though Morse said he recognizes that it will take hard work and practical solutions.
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