May 25, 2004 12:39 PM

Healthcare coverage for contract, temp workers in sight?
Posted by at 12:39 PM

Some area firms are looking into providing non-full-time employees with healthcare coverage.

Top US employers have joined forces to provide more affordable health insurance to an estimated 4 million contract, temporary, or part-time employees who, along with their families, lack coverage.

The Fortune 500 companies, which include EMC Corp. of Hopkinton and Textron Inc. of Providence, believe that by banding together they will be able to find an insurer that will offer lower rates to contingent workers and early retirees who are not old enough to qualify for Medicare.

The effort by the 51 companies comes as more and more employers have increased the number of temporary and contingent workers on their payrolls.