Affordable Healthcare Coverage
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The Galveston 3-Share Plan offers small business
Contact us to learn more about affordable healthcare
owners the opportunity to provide affordable health care
coverage for low-wage employees of small businesses
benefits to their employees. The employer’s requirements
in Galveston County.
consists of a business location within Galveston County,
employ 2 to 50 W-2 employees, must have been in
business for the past 12 months, has not provided group
health insurance benefits during that time period, the
maximum median annual income for all employees is
$50,000, at least half of eligible employees must enroll.
At enrollment, the employee is not covered by any
governmental health benefits plan, such as Medicare or
Medicaid and must work an average annual minimum
of 20 hours per week.
Galveston 3-Share Plan
301 University Blvd.
What is a 3-Share Health Plan?
Galveston, TX 77555-1155
409.766.4058 Tel
The Galveston 3-share plan is a health benefit
program (not health insurance) which follows an
HMO model. The provider network is primarily
409.747.0896 Fax
[email protected]
www.utmb.edu/3share
UTMB. The cost of the Plan is $180.00 per month
which is split three ways between employer,
employee and a combination of Houston Endowment
grant funds and UTMB funds. The basis for success
of this Plan is the affordability and shared financial
responsibility.
A member of the TexHealth Coalition
Low-cost Healthcare Coverage
for Small Businesses
EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
The Galveston 3-Share Plan emphasizes primary and
preventive care. Its goal is to promote optimum
health to its members by enhancing access to
appropriate treatment, and encouraging healthy
lifestyles. Basic benefits include physician visits,
specialty care, hospitalization, pharmacy, mental
health services, wellness, and disease management.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
THE TEXHEALTH COALITION
The Galveston 3-Share Plan began as a pilot
One in four working Texans has no healthcare
coverage, the highest percentage in the nation.
program in July 2008. It was developed by UTMB
A large number are employees of small businesses.
with a $1.6 million dollar grant from the Houston
The TexHealth Coalition is a voluntary association
Endowment. Galveston County business leaders and
of Texas communities that have come together to
citizen focus groups engaged in the Plan’s
identify options to reduce the number of uninsured
development. Presently, the goal of the Plan is to
individuals in their communities while maintaining
enroll 500 members and study how it can better
local and regional flexibility.
serve the working uninsured. This Plan has been
designed to be a model program that has the
potential to be replicated by other communities. Small
For more information please contact:
businesses participating in the Galveston 3-Share Plan
include retail, professional, service, hospitality, trades,
Jim Rodriguez
Galveston 3-Share Plan
301 University Blvd
e-mail – [email protected]
telephone – 409.766.4058
facsimile – 409.747.0896
Galveston, TX 77555-1155
automotive, schools and non-profits organizations.
The Coalition secured legislation to allow the
creation of regional health plans outside the
traditional health insurance structure. Currently there
are six communities participating in the coalition:
Galveston County, Harris County, Central Texas, El
Paso, Dallas County and the Brazos Valley.
www.utmb.edu/3share
The Galveston 3-Share Plan offers
low-cost benefits for businesses with 2
to 50 employees.
Over 100 small businesses have joined
the Galveston 3-Share Plan in the
first 3 months.
Texas communities working
together to reduce the number of
uninsured working Texans.