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(KSL News) -- Some financial relief for Utahns struggling to pay for an employee health plan.
The Utah Department of Health announced a new program Saturday, that will provide more affordable coverage to working adults. Up until now many folks have had to go without.
Nearly six thousand Utahns can now enjoy complete benefits packages provided by their employment.
Matt Shaw/Manager, Cactus & Tropicals "ANY HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARISE, THE MORE EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE THAT HAVE HEALTH COVERAGE, THE LESS DAYS THEY WILL CALL IN SICK, WHICH IS BETTER FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED."
Total benefits packages were made possible by a Medicaid waiver that combined sixteen million dollars of federal and state funds.
Almost two hundred thousand Utahns do not have insurance.
Advocates of this new program hope to reduce that number by sixteen percent.
To qualify, workers must earn less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $8,980 a year for a single person.
(AP Contributed to this report)
