06 October 2004

Maine Begins Enrollment in Dirigo Health Program for Small Businesses and Self-Employed Individuals

Maine on Monday opened enrollment for small businesses and self-employed individuals in Dirigo Health's DirigoChoice insurance plan, a public-private health insurance venture with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine that aims to make health care accessible to the state's 138,000 uninsured residents by 2009, the Bangor Daily News reports (Bangor Daily News, 10/4).

Under the program, Maine contracts with Anthem and competes with existing health plans to offer coverage to employees who work at least 20 hours per week. Employers cover as much as 60% of the cost of the premiums, and employees pay the remainder of the cost.

The state provides premium subsidies on a sliding scale to program participants with annual incomes less than 300% of the federal poverty level.

The state also offers employers subsidies to encourage the participation of employees who meet certain criteria.

DirigoChoice will cover comprehensive medical services, including prescription drugs, hospital stays and physician and specialist visits (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 6/16). The state has set aside 26,500 openings in the program for small-business employees, but those positions are expected to fill gradually. Another 4,500 openings have been reserved for self-employed individuals and others who may hold expensive policies on the individual market. Officials anticipate those positions will fill rapidly. Coverage for both groups will begin Jan. 1 (Bangor Daily News, 10/4).

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