Three political realities in expanding coverage for the working poor: one state's experience.

Realities states, e.g., Indiana, face to expand health coverage for uninsured poor: (1) Cost of even limited coverage for low-income workers and families, (2) uninsured poor already obtain care from safety-net providers, and (3) documented lack of demand among low-income workers for health care coverage with minimum benefits threatens voluntary participation in a subsidized private program.

The proposal of the Indiana Commission on Health Care for the Working Poor, established in 1995, is described: (1) developing safety-net provider networks, (2) protecting network hospitals through stop-loss subsidies.