Report: More Than Half Low-Wage Workers Lack Health Benefits, Paid Leave

Summary

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The sharp divide in the American workforce between low-wage workers who also lack health benefits and those with higher wages and health benefits affects not only the economic security of millions of workers, but affects their access to essential health care as well, reveals a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.

Low- and moderate-wage workers - those earning less than $15 an hour, or about $30,000 a year for a full-time worker - are more likely to lack health insurance coverage through their employers and are also more likely to lack other benefits such as paid sick days, leaving them even more vulnerable to economic and health problems. If these low-wage workers without sick leave do seek health care, they lose pay for taking time off from work for a doctor visit. But if they are too sick to work, they also lose pay. The situation contributes to lower rates of health care access and poorer health status for low-wage workers.

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Report: More Than Half Low-Wage Workers Lack Health Benefits, Paid Leave

We often focus on the cost of providing affordable health insurance coverage and ensuring access to health care for wo...

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