A bill to provide grants to States for the purpose of providing health insurance or health care benefits to unemployed workers, and for other purposes.
Health Care for Unemployed Workers Act of 1983 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States to provide health insurance or health care benefits to eligible unemployed workers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1983 through 1986.
Bases State allotments on specified categories of unemployed persons. Permits reallotment of unused funds among States.
Permits States to charge participants (premiums and deductibles) up to five percent of their unemployment compensation.
Requires participating States to submit an annual application, with required public hearings on funds use and distribution after the first year of participation. Permits States to design such health programs but specifies certain program requirements. Requires an annual report to the Secretary.
Provides grants to hospitals and health care facilities serving medically underserved populations or areas of high unemployment. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress regarding participating facilities by December 31, 1984.
Requires private and public employer-provided health plans to contain an open enrollment period of at least 30 days for spouses of unemployed workers. Exempts from such requirement plans of employers who employ less than 25 employees. Provides civil penalties for noncompliance and specified PHSA fund-cutoffs for State noncompliance.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Committee on Labor and Human Resources requested executive comment from Labor Department, Health and Human Services Department, GAO, OMB.
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