Monterey, CA State Employee Workers Union Urging County To Start Health Care Program For Low Income Workers

Monterey, CA  State Employee Workers Union Urging County To Start Health Care Program For Low Income Workers : View From A Non-Profit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

Health care reform is being rolled out but many aren't prepared for it, including Monterey County.  A group of long-term care workers has urged the Board of Supervisors to move forward with a local health care program for low-income workers called ViaCare, which provides temporary health care coverage for up to 1,500 single adult residents who earn below the federal poverty level.  Funded by the federal government, the pilot program was rolled out to see what each county's capacity is to provide care to low-income residents.  About 55,000 Monterey County residents will be eligible for Medi-Cal and health insurance purchased over an exchange under the Affordable Care Act.  Unfortunately, the program will require $6.5 million in county matching funds to get started, and times are tough.  A member of the state executive board of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) presented the board of supervisors with a stack of petitions asking supervisors to pick up the pace on getting the program up and running.  According to the union, 50 of the 58 counties in California have voted in some version of t

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