Workers' Perspectives on Mandated Employer Health Insurance

Mandated employer health insurance is receiving renewed attention in light of legislation recently passed in California. On October 5, 2003, then California Governor Gray Davis signed into law the California Health Insurance Act of 2003 (also known as SB2). To better understand workers' views on mandated employer health coverage, the California HealthCare Foundation commissioned a national survey and reported the results of this survey in a recent Health Affairs report. The survey results show that a vast majority of workers support employer health insurance mandates regardless of whether they are currently insured. However, opinion is varied on the details of such a mandate, including how extensive it should be. Differences in opinion are evident with regard to such details as the size of employers that are subject to a mandate, the types of employees that are covered, coverage of dependents, the extent of employers' premium contributions, and how to ensure that low-wage workers can take up offered benefits.

For more information, the report can be found on the web at: http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/reprint/hlthaff.w4.128v1.pdf

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