NU Online News Service, Jan. 31, 2005, 4:20 p.m. EST

Portland, Ore., companies are getting together to improve health coverage rates for workers' children and spouses.[@@]

The companies, The Partners Group, an insurance agency, and Providence Health Plan, a health care system, have joined to set up the Dependent Solutions program, a program that provides dependent care coverage that may save families as much as $250 per month, Partners and Providence say.

The program keeps costs low by making deductibles for hospital care and other types of care high but keeping out-of-pocket costs for ordinary preventive care low.

The Partners Group will be selling the program to employers in the Providence Health service area with at least 51 employees.

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