UT Program Helps Employees with Health Premiums

November 1, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The Utah Department of Health has announced a new program to give employed residents of the state assistance in paying for their employer-sponsored health plan premiums.

According to the announcement, employees qualified for the Utah Premium Partnership for Health Insurance program can receive monthly assistance of up to $150 per adult and up to $100 per child to pay for employer-sponsored plan premiums. The new program replaces a previous program that offered lower reimbursements only to adults.

Workers can qualify for the program if they are a US citizen or legal resident, are not currently ensured but are able to enroll in their employer’s health plan, and meet specific household income guidelines.

Business Insurance reports that the program is currently limited to the first 1,000 individuals who qualify, but lawmakers are expected to consider legislation expanding the program after they gauge interest.

Following adoption of a universal health care mandate by the state of Massachusetts (See New Bay State Rules Would Excuse Most Cos. from Per-Worker Health Coverage Fee), a number of states have introduced their own proposals for covering the uninsured (See Garden State Joins Chorus of State Health Mandate Proposals ).

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