State rules waived to help children of laid-off workers

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001 | 8:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A special committee has allocated $200,000 to help cover medical costs for the children of workers laid off in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Gov. Kenny Guinn has waived rules in an effort to make it easier for families to qualify for welfare, health insurance and low energy assistance benefits.

The Task Force for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada voted unanimously Monday to send the extra $200,000 to the United Way of Southern Nevada. The money would be used to cover medical expenses for some children of unemployed workers. The money, say state officials, would be used for special cases.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, told the task force that unemployed workers are finding it impossible to pay rent, utilities and cover their children's medical costs.

The money will come from the state's share of the tobacco settlement. The state received more money than expected.

The task force, headed by Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, is charged with allocating the money to be used to fund a variety of programs.

Buckley said many legislators feel "stymied" that they are not in session to appropriate money for such needs. But she said research has found that the tobacco money is available.

Garth Winckler, head of United Way of Southern Nevada, said many of the laid-off workers face eviction, and so far, his agency has helped 600 families. The agency, however, doesn't have the money to fund children's medical costs.

Winckler and Ann Corey, president of the United Way of Northern Nevada -- which will share in the allocation -- said all of the money will go toward paying for health care for the children.

D. Taylor of the Culinary Union in Las Vegas said an estimated 15,000 workers have been laid off in Clark County, and the chances that all will soon be rehired is not good.

Those in the Culinary Union who have been laid off have insurance for four months, although others have none. Taylor said it is expensive to pay for the insurance coverage, which is provided to workers who are no longer employed.

For example, a worker who lost his job at Mandalay Bay faces a $250 to $300 a month premium under the Cobra insurance program. Family coverage is $500 per month. And, with the onset of winter, Taylor said, children have an increased risk of developing health problems.

State Human Resources Director Mike Willden told the task force that the governor has made several moves to help unemployed families.

Under the Nevada Check-Up, program, which provides medical coverage for children of the working poor, a family must not have had insurance for six months prior to submitting an application.

Willden said that requirement is being waived for parents who have been laid off. The program requires parents to pay anywhere from $10 to $50 each quarter for their children's coverage.

Willden also said that money received from unemployment benefits will not be used to calculate income, even if a family qualifies for welfare, for Medicaid, Nevada Check-Up and low energy assistance.

He said the rules have required that the unemployment payments be considered an asset in determining financial eligibility for these programs. That won't be the case during this time of crisis, he said.

He told the committee that the state has applied to the federal government for a similar waiver regarding food stamps. He said the regional official of the government has denied the request, although the state is appealing to the national office.

That program, Willden explained, is governed by federal rules, opposed to the others in which the governor has waived the regulations.