Virginia Foundation Launches Pilot Program To Help Small Businesses Offer Health Insurance to Employees

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) and the Riverside Foundation on Wednesday announced that the foundation this summer will launch a pilot program that aims to help small businesses that cannot afford to offer health coverage, the Newport News Daily Press reports. Under the program, the foundation, employees and employers each will contribute one-third of the cost of health insurance, with the foundation paying up to $75 per month per employee. The program likely will be aimed at businesses with two to 50 employees, and eligibility is expected to be limited to employees with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

The foundation had hoped to receive matching state money for a $1 million donation to the pilot program; however, the General Assembly did not approve the funding because of budgetary constraints. Kaine said, "The proposal was to match what we did -- and we didn't produce," adding, "But Riverside stepped up, anyway. To do it without a match is truly, truly astonishing." William Downey, chief operating officer for Riverside Health Systems, said he hoped that after the program's implementation, lawmakers would see its benefits and allocate funds for the program in the future (Payne, Newport News Daily Press, 5/15).