The federal Government has decided to provide health insurance to approximately 80,000 employers who fall under the low-income group. The funding for the insurance would be contributed by the employer, in addition to the federal and state funds.
Mike Huckabee of the Arkansas Government has urged that the health insurance be provided to all employees. This move is anticipated to yield considerable revenue to the federal Medicaid dollar program, targeted at provision of health insurance to employees.Currently, only about 1 in 4 small businesses offer health insurance in Arkansas, according to official reports of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Higher income workers are entitled to receive $100 a month that would be contributed by the employer. For employees who earn less than twice the poverty level, the employer’s contribution has been fixed at $15 per employee, each month.
The Governor explained several aspects related to the insurance plan during his 'Ask the Governor' show. He said that the plan would help workers retain their job. Participation is the insurance program is non-mandatory and left to the employee’s discretion. He further stated that the program would not be a handout, as workers will also be expected to contribute.
'The fact is, there are many, many Arkansas workers who are one broken arm away from not being able to pay their rent next month. They are literally a case of the flu away from not being able to make ... next month's truck payment. And without that truck, they don't get to work. The way this works is everyone has to have coverage and the employer has to agree to cover everyone in the employee pool. The only ones who could opt out are those who have coverage through a spouse,' concluded the Governor.
