Senate Democrats’ ‘Healthy Wisconsin’ Reform Plan Guarantees Care for All, Saves Taxpayers $1.3 Billion
Comprehensive Package Ensures Choice, Access to State Legislature’s Health Benefits
Madison – All Wisconsin residents will have access to the same health care benefits as members of the state legislature will under the Senate Democrats’ “Healthy Wisconsin” reform plan. The plan, which the Senate will include in its version of the state budget, makes a historic investment in the state’s future by guaranteeing affordable early screening and standardized health care, while encouraging prevention to ensure healthier families for generations.
“Insurance and drug companies grab record profits, while you pay more and more. Enough is enough,” said Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair and architect of the “Healthy Wisconsin” plan. “‘Healthy Wisconsin’ guarantees you get affordable and quality health care you have paid for and have earned.”
Under “Healthy Wisconsin,” all Wisconsin residents and employees under 65 are guaranteed health insurance through a choice of public or private plan, regardless of preexisting conditions. Coverage will be paid for by a payroll deduction similar to Social Security of $370 a month for the average employer and $140 for the average employee.
The plan includes prescription drug coverage, does not affect Medicare eligibility, and has no co-pays for preventive care and chronic disease management with participation in continuing wellness treatment.
“In Wisconsin we can and must do better and ‘Healthy Wisconsin’ gives families the medical coverage and care you need,” said Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit), a registered nurse. “If you work hard, pay taxes, and play by the rules, it’s wrong for you to go without decent affordable health care.”
Wisconsin property taxpayers will reap immediate dividends from “Healthy Wisconsin” with better health and $1.3 billion in savings in property tax relief and lower health care costs for local governments.
“The provisions of ‘Healthy Wisconsin’ have wide support and will help everyone from farmers to small business owners to employees to local governments,” said Erpenbach. “‘Healthy Wisconsin’ guarantees you will get the same quality health care your state legislators will have.”
Senate Democrats held public hearings and traveled across Wisconsin to develop “Healthy Wisconsin” seeking expertise from and earning the support of business leaders, community members, local elected officials, and health care professionals in every corner of the state.
Additional benefits of “Healthy Wisconsin”:
• “Healthy Wisconsin” includes mental health parity as well as preventative dental care for children.
• “Healthy Wisconsin” protects workers’ rights as union members would be able to bargain for increased benefits not covered.
• “Healthy Wisconsin” saves millions spent in health premiums and taxes spent on unnecessary emergency room visits by the uninsured.
• “Healthy Wisconsin” reduces waste and streamlines administration and lowers drug costs through bulk purchasing.
• “Healthy Wisconsin” rewards healthy lifestyles and preventive care, including closely coordinated care for the chronically ill and supporting providers who deliver the most efficient and highest quality care.
“’Healthy Wisconsin’ reduces costs and improves quality and puts consumers back in control,” said Robson. “You and your doctor are in charge with ‘Healthy Wisconsin,’ not some big insurance company or bureaucrat.”
Over $730 million in costs billed by hospitals in 2005 went unpaid. At least half of all personal bankruptcies are the result of medical expenses, including over 13,400 medical bankruptcies affecting over 37,000 Wisconsinites in 2004 alone.
