Low-wage workers air insurance complaints

Local businesses are not providing enough health insurance for their employees, thus transferring a costly responsibility onto the taxpayers, a coalition of local religious leaders is charging.

The Las Vegas Interfaith Council for Worker Justice says the number of people receiving taxpayer-supported care at University Medial Center could be dramatically reduced if businesses would provide adequate health insurance for their employees.

University Medical Center, whose policy is set by the County Commission, is a public hospital where care is guaranteed to all comers regardless of their ability to pay.

The Interfaith Council, an organization of 25 interdenominational religious groups, Tuesday presented the County Commission with more than 1,000 letters signed by members in 30 congregations citing health-insurance horror stories.

All seven county commissioners said they were appalled at the number of uninsured and underinsured people in Nevada. They authorized hiring a consultant to find out how many of these patients were being treated at UMC.

They also encouraged the 1999 Legislature to look into addressing the problem on a state-wide level.

Bill Hale, chief executive officer at UMC, said most of the area's uninsured or underinsured people end up at his hospital. As the county hospital, taxpayers pick up the tab.

Hale said it's estimated that between 114,000 and 270,000 people are uninsured throughout the state and the problem is only getting worse.

The church leaders, joined by local representatives from charities, argued that low-wage earners throughout the state either had no health insurance, or very little to cover themselves and their families.

"I earn $5.25 an hour and pay $33 a week for coverage," said Kevin Carter, a food server for Ark Restaurants inside the New York-New York hotel-casino. "If anyone gets sick, I have a co-payment. Because of my wages that are inadequate, I can't afford to pay my bills.

"I got to thank God I don't have a catastrophic illness in my family -- with my 3-year-old daughter and wife. You shouldn't have to be a full-time worker and be in this position."

The Rev. William Kenny, pastor of Christ the King Catholic Community Church, said his low-wage parishioners -- who work mainly in the restaurant service industry and construction industry -- have been complaining for the last year.

Marlene Richter, director of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, said her organization helped 12,760 destitute people in 1996 and 15,000 in 1997. She said many of these people end up in a crisis situation because they don't have health insurance and need assistance.

Mary Ann Avilia, who has been a cocktail waitress at the Santa Fe hotel-casino for 4 1/2 years, said she works 40 hours a week. But because she is on the extra board -- not considered a full-time employee -- she is not given health insurance.

"I am a single parent, and I cannot get health insurance for myself or my child," an emotional Avilia said. "UMC was the only place I could turn to. I applied for Medicare and was turned down because I made too much money."

Andrew Klebanow, vice president of marketing for the Sante Fe Gaming Corp., said Avilia qualified as a full-time employee in 1995 but she never applied for benefits.

He said employees on extra boards are considered part time and do not qualify for health benefits.

"The Sante Fe offers health benefits that are competitive with other gaming corporations," Klebanow said. "We can't do anything if people don't apply."

Paul Gordon, senior vice president of Ark Restaurants, said the Culinary Union is trying to discredit his company, and that his restaurants' health insurance programs aren't any different than other food establishments in Las Vegas.

"This is a political attack," Gordon said. "We are doing the best we can with our employees. It costs us $55 for medical and dental for a single person. Our benefits are as good as most restaurants."

Willis Roofing, 4755 W. Dewey Drive, also was accused of not providing health insurance for its employees. Antonio Jimenez, speaking through an interpreter, said he is paid $7 an hour. Two years ago, he said he was faced with a $13,000 bill for an appendectomy.

Kenny said eight weeks ago Willis Roofing started offering health insurance to its workers for $360 a month.

Attempts to reach Willis Roofing for comment were unsuccessful.

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