Randall Jackson Sr. said he wants to help the three full-time employees who work in his Maysville automotive shop, but providing health insurance has always been out of reach.

"We've never been able to afford health care insurance for them. ... It's always been so high," he said. "Many times these guys have needed it and went without."

Jackson said he thinks a new state program that will give small businesses financial incentives to help pay for employee health insurance may finally allow him to provide it.

Under the program, the state will give small businesses that have not offered their workers health insurance during the previous year $40 per employee per month to help pay insurance costs.

Companies that have an employee with a high-cost health condition can get a $60 incentive per employee per month, regardless of whether they have offered health insurance during the previous year.

Businesses with two to 25 employees are eligible. The employer must pay at least half the health insurance costs, and the average annual salary of the group (excluding the owner) can be no more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

"Small business makes up such a significant portion ... of our economy," said Chris Corbin, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Health Policy. "We see some people ... who are just struggling."

Corbin said $20 million is available for the incentives over the next two years. He expects 4,000 businesses and as many as 20,000 workers could be helped.

Applications for the program will be online next month at the Kentucky Office of Insurance Web site. They can also be obtained from any health insurance agent with a Kentucky license. Part of each application must be completed by an agent.

For more information, visit the Kentucky Office of Insurance Web site at http://doi.ppr.ky.gov/kentucky and click on the ICARE Fact Sheet link under "What's New."

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