Since the start of the pandemic, about 400 Missouri childcare providers have closed with no plans to reopen. That’s according to United Women’s Empowerment, a Missouri women’s advocacy organization. Wendy Doyle, the president and CEO, says the organization’s research shows that one of the biggest childcare workforce problems is access to healthcare insurance. She says the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is offering the providers access to health insurance if they are a member of a Chamber of Commerce group…

Under the chamber’s 26 different health plans, providers can join a plan as a single pool, which lowers the costs. The businesses buy the health plans and must pay for at least half of the premium costs for their workers.