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Voucher Amount Estimator
Beginning January 1, 2012 effective coverage forward use
New Voucher Estimator
The cost of providing healthcare for employees is one of the greatest challenges facing businesses in Maine. That reality applies to Merrymeeting Behavioral Health Associates in Brunswick. Our agency has about 166 employees, many of them part time workers who don't have health coverage due to the cost. The issue of health insurance has been an ongoing challenge.
Many of our staff members provide in-home support to clients. Our staff must be as healthy as possible, providing service in the field as they do. This year, Maine's Dirigo Health Agency (DHA) introduced a new voucher program that provides financial assistance to help part time or seasonal, uninsured workers participate in their employer's health insurance plan. The program works as a 'wrap around' benefit to our existing health coverage, making it affordable for both the company and the employee. Our agency is proud to have been the very first Maine company to offer the new plan to our part time employees.
Dirigo's subsidized Voucher Program is an affordable option that comes at a time of critical need. I encourage other businesses and organizations throughout Maine to look into it and sign up.
Jim Talbot, Director
Merrymeeting Behavioral Health Associates
One of the greatest challenges for keeping a business in Maine is the cost of healthcare for employees. The restaurant industry has a particularly high percentage of seasonal part time employees who have had difficulty accessing healthcare due to the cost to both the employer and employee. There are certain times of year when 70% of our staff is part time. For Ricetta's, the issue of health insurance has been an ongoing challenge.
The state of Maine has taken a lead role in helping uninsured Mainers and families access health insurance through the Dirigo Health Agency (DHA). One of the new programs now accepting enrollees is a voucher program that provides financial assistance to help uninsured part time or seasonal workers and their families participate in their employer's health insurance plan. It is administered by DHA, through a federal grant awarded to the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance.
Our company is proud to have been one of the first Maine companies to offer the new plan to our part time employees. Employee retention is also a challenge in the restaurant industry, but we know from experience that happy and healthy employees are more likely to stay.
I hope other Maine businesses will look at Dirigo's Voucher Program and consider adding it as a benefit for uninsured part-time employees who need it for themselves and their families. It's an affordable program, and it's the right thing to do.
Ron Stephan, President
Ricetta's Restaurants
