Cascade Engineering Joins First-Of-It's-Kind Partnership To Provide Insurance For Uninsured Kids

Grand Rapids, MICHIGAN – In a first of its kind partnership, Grand Rapids-based Cascade Engineering has partnered with the Michigan Department of Community Health, MIChild and Staffing Incorporated to provide health insurance for the otherwise uninsured children of employees during the 90-day probationary period of employment.

Under the new arrangement, children of employees who join Cascade Engineering through Staffing Incorporated – the designated employment agent for Cascade Engineering – will be eligible for MIChild health benefits until the employee’s normal health benefits begin.

MIChild is a health insurance program for uninsured children of Michigan’s working families. MIChild services are provided by many HMOs and other health care plans throughout Michigan. Some of the services covered by MIChild include regular checkups, shots, emergency care, dental care, pharmacy, hospital care, prenatal care/delivery, vision/hearing, mental health and substance abuse services.

The monthly premium for each child who qualifies is only $5 per month.

"The goal of this partnership is to make sure children are being insured," said Mike Goldman, Cascade Engineering’s vice president of business services. "MIChild was already in existence., We’re just making it more accessible to those who may need it by offering it to our employees before their actual benefits take effect."

Staffing Incorporated will assist employees in filling out the necessary paperwork and submitting it to the state. During the 90-day probationary period, Staffing Inc. will pay each employee’s $5 per month MI Child premium. After that, Cascade Engineering will pay the premium.

"We find it alarming that so many children do not have coverage," said Cindy Taylor, on-site manager for Staffing Inc. "We help find work for such a large percentage of the population. If there’s anything else we can do to help them, that’s our mission."

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