( Added: June 10, 2007 ) - Freelancers Union will begin offering a wide range of health plans to eligible independent workers and their families in 30 states through a new relationship with UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company and its affiliated companies.

Independent workers (e.g., freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees and the self-employed) comprise more than 30 percent of America’s workforce today, and that number is growing rapidly. Now, with offerings made available through Freelancers Union, independent workers across the country will have increased access to health care benefits traditionally available through employer-sponsored plans.

Throughout its 11 year history, New York City-based Freelancers Union has been a pioneer and catalyst for change in the movement to address the needs of the nation’s new workforce. Freelancers Union has received more than $7 million in support for their social entrepreneurial efforts from the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, among others.

Freelancers Union currently provides health insurance to over 15,000 New Yorkers, and offers its more than 50,000 members nationwide group-rate life and disability insurance, in addition to professional discounts and networking, educational and advocacy initiatives.

Starting June 5, 2007, self-employed workers in the following states will be offered a variety of quality health plans, including lower-cost high deductible and health savings account (HSA) plans: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The health plans also provide Freelancers Union members with access to UnitedHealthcare’s extensive national network of 535,000 physicians and care professionals and more than 4,700 hospitals nationwide.

Sara Horowitz, founder and executive director of Freelancers Union, said: “This national expansion is a natural progression of our proven success in New York City – home to the largest independent-worker population in the world. Instead of waiting for policy makers on the national and state levels to acknowledge the changing nature of the workforce and take action to update the social safety net, Freelancers Union is forging a new unionism to address the common concerns of independent workers. We are providing them with a collective voice for change that grows louder with every additional member.”

Richard A. Collins, CEO of Golden Rule and president of UnitedHealthcare’s individual line of business, said: “Golden Rule and its affiliated companies are pleased to join with the Freelancers Union in making quality health care accessible to millions of hard-working Americans who might not otherwise know that there are affordable health insurance plans available to them. We are proud of our association and look forward to expanding our offerings to independent workers throughout the country.”

Membership in Freelancers Union is free of charge. Independent workers who want cost and coverage information for health, dental, disability and life insurance plans can visit the Freelancers Union website at www.freelancersunion.org.