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Publicly-Subsidized Private Health Insurance Coverage
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>Publicly-Subsidized Private Health Insurance Coverage
There are two types of publicly-subsidized private health care coverage in the state of Arizona. The Arizona Legislature established Healthcare Group (HCG) to make health insurance more accessible to the state’s small business community. It was implemented in 1988 when private carriers began withdrawing from the small employer market. Administered through Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the program offers a choice of prepaid insurance coverage, through AHCCCS contractors, to businesses with 1 to 50 employees. There are neither income requirements nor previous coverage or insurance requirements (e.g., requirements that employers did not previously offer coverage, or that enrollees were previously insured). In 2000, there were 11,862 persons enrolled in HCG, 37.6% of whom were located in the 13 rural counties (rural-urban = 1,201 and rural-rural = 3,263).
In 1998, Arizona sponsored a health care insurance pilot program on a sliding fee scale for low-income, uninsured families (under 200% FPL) called Premium Sharing. This program was administered through AHCCCS’ Healthcare Group. Premium Sharing provides another insurance option for the state’s low-income, working families in two rural counties: Cochise and Pinal, and two urban counties: Maricopa and Pima. In 2000, there were 7,107 members enrolled in the program, 29.1% of whom were located in Cochise and Pinal Counties.[3] The Premium Sharing program was expanded to cover all 15 counties and those between 100 - 250% FPL (non-chronic illnesses) on October 1, 2001, but it was terminated on September 17, 2003, due to state budget cuts.
