Greetings—

The child care workforce performs essential, physically demanding work, with providers facing daily health risks as they take care of the country’s children. Yet because of low wages and high rates of uninsurance, many cannot access essential health care benefits.


The District of Columbia’s first-in-the-nation
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HealthCare4Childcare Program (HC4CC) addresses this longstanding need for affordable health insurance among the child care workforce by offering plans that are affordable for both employers and employees who choose to participate.


Urban Institute experts conducted an
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in-depth case study of HC4CC , finding that 2,331 individuals enrolled in its first two years and 79 percent of eligible facilities participated in the program. Participants reported improved health insurance access and affordability.

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For other states and cities looking to adopt a similar model, the researchers identify the following steps :
- Leverage and expand existing infrastructure to make health insurance more affordable. DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority led quick and effective program implementation through DC’s Health Insurance Marketplace. Federal dollars, such as those available through advance premium tax credits and Medicaid expansion, can also complement local investments to cover costs, even as state fiscal belts tighten.
- Pair effective policy with comprehensive implementation. Taking an “all-in-approach” that combines direct outreach and engagement with potential employers, participants, and community organizations can boost participation.
- Learn as you go. HC4CC’s intentional approach to continuous improvement allowed for key policy changes that better met the needs of the child care community over its first two years.
- Safeguard future funding. While HC4CC has become an essential benefit for DC’s child care workforce, its long-term prospects remain uncertain. Ongoing agency leadership and advocacy can help navigate DC’s outstanding budget questions and potential federal policy changes to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
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Read the case study and please reply to this email if you would like to connect with the research team.


Thanks,


- The Stakeholder Outreach team

U R B A N I N S T I T U T E

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www.urban.org




Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that believes in the power of evidence to improve people’s lives. Urban as an organization does not take policy positions but Urban’s independent experts are empowered to make recommendations based on their research.


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