Healthcare for West Virginia Workers

HEALTHCARE FOR WEST VIRGINIA WORKERS
By
Governor Bob Wise

America makes a commitment to its workers: we have a minimum wage law, health and safety regulations and the right to organize. Labor unions have fought hard to secure these safeguards over many decades and, while there is always more work to be done, American workers enjoy a better standard of living than our counterparts in many other countries.

Unfortunately, some countries have not made these commitments to their workers, and can produce many products at lower costs. It is unfair to American workers that jobs are lost when foreign competitors undercut American companies with these lower labor standards.

Congress has recognized the plight of millions of workers displaced by foreign competition. The Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) provides for retraining and income assistance for many of these workers, while the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation assists retirees whose employers cannot pay their pensions. Neither program, however, provides access to health insurance or assistance with premiums.

We must now assure these West Virginia workers and their families access to the health coverage they need. Thanks to a partnership between state government and Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, workers will be eligible for coverage and a monthly tax credit of up to 65 percent of their health insurance premiums.

I have made accessible and affordable health care a top priority of my administration. We have enrolled thousands of children in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), guaranteeing the healthcare they need. I fought for medical liability reform, and now we're keeping doctors in our communities. Health care is a vital issue for all West Virginians, and we're making progress.

We must continue to battle unfair foreign competition by insisting on safety, health and economic standards on the part of our global partners. America is a world leader in countless ways; we must set an example of fair treatment of those who make our nation great and protect American jobs and the lives of workers around the world.