Just like the version that passed the Senate last summer, the revised Healthy Wisconsin (Senate Bill 562) guarantees every Wisconsinite the same quality health care state legislators have had for years, and guarantees a choice of high quality public and private health plans. The new version makes two small but significant changes. First, it makes the plan even better for small businesses, by creating a 3 year phase in period. Second, it caps the household income to which the payroll assessment is applied (at $102,000 per year) to prevent some two income families from paying more than the reasonable cost of health coverage.
Wisconsin Has the Opportunity to be the First State to Guarantee Affordable Health Coverage: Wisconsin has often been first to find common sense solutions to difficult problems. Healthy Wisconsin builds on this tradition of Wisconsin innovation by guaranteeing affordable quality health care to every Wisconsinite for less than we are paying now. Since the summer, Healthy Wisconsin has become a national model, with many other states considering introduction of similar proposals.
It’s About Time: It’s just wrong for anyone who works hard, pays taxes, and plays by the rules to go without decent affordable health care coverage. Enough is enough. Insurance and drug companies are making record profits. We’re paying more and more, but you can’t count on coverage when you really need it. Healthy Wisconsin will guarantee that people get the affordable quality care they deserve and have paid for.
Healthy Wisconsin Preserves What is Good About the Current Health Care System While Making it Affordable for Everyone: In Wisconsin, we have some of the best doctors and medical facilities in the world. Healthy Wisconsin preserves our state-of-the- art health care system, while making it accessible to everyone by lowering costs, and guaranteeing access and choice. People who are satisfied with their family doctors and other medical providers will be able to continue those relationships.
Healthy Wisconsin Guarantees Quality Health Insurance Coverage: The program covers every resident not already covered by government programs (Medicare, BadgerCare, etc). You and your family will no longer have to worry about health care coverage being there when you need it, even if you change jobs, retire early, or start a small business. No one will be denied coverage for any pre-existing condition. No matter what you and your family will be covered by the same standard benefits package as State Legislators and other state employees. All medically necessary services are covered, including emergency care, preventive care, on-going treatment, and mental health. Access to specialists and advanced procedures is guaranteed, in coordination with your primary medical provider.
Under Healthy Wisconsin You Will Have More Real Health Care Choices: Healthy Wisconsin returns control of health care decisions to you and your family. Family medical decisions will again be between you and your doctor, not insurance company bureaucrats and hospital administrators. You will have a choice of private and public health plans which will guarantee access to a standard benefits package and a full range of medical providers. Healthy Wisconsin offers much more choice than families have today, as 87% of employers currently offer only one type of health plan.
Healthy Wisconsin is Affordable for Individuals, while asking Everyone to Pay Their Fair Share: The plan covers every resident of the state. Individuals will pay substantially less than they are paying now in out-of-pocket health care expenses for better and more secure coverage. The typical Wisconsin family will save over 40% in insurance premiums alone, which amounts to over $1,300 per year. For those who are employed, you will be asked to pay on a sliding scale through a reasonable payroll assessment, similar to Social Security, of 4% per month, which replaces your current health insurance premiums. It is estimated that the typical Wisconsin household will pay $163 per month with a $600 family deductible, and no deductibles for children, preventive care, or the treatment of chronic diseases. Employers may choose to pay these costs on behalf of employees.
Healthy Wisconsin also Asks All Employers to Pay Their Fair Share: Right now some employers pay much too much for health insurance because other employers are not doing their part. Healthy Wisconsin is funded by a reasonable assessment on every employer’s payroll of 10.5% per month, or about $370 per month for the average worker. The average Wisconsin employer who now provides health care will by assessed 15% less than they are currently paying for health insurance, an average savings of over $1,500 per employee each year. The savings will be even greater for small businesses, which typically pay much more for insurance. Large businesses that do not provide affordable health insurance will be asked to pay their fair share.
Healthy Wisconsin Reduces Health Care Costs: Right now we pay too much for too little health care. Wisconsin has among the highest health care costs in the country. Billions are wasted in private bureaucracy and in insurance company and hospital administrative costs. Insurance companies profit by covering healthy people and avoiding covering the sick. This shifts costs onto everyone else when people who have been denied routine care must go to the emergency room, and can’t pay their bills. By using the buying power of the people of Wisconsin to negotiate drug prices, streamlining administration, discouraging inappropriate emergency room visits, and encouraging healthy lifestyles and preventive care, Healthy Wisconsin will save an estimated $1.3 billion per year.
Healthy Wisconsin Avoids a $13.8 billion tax on doing nothing: Over the next 10 years, if Wisconsin does nothing to change the way we pay for it, it is estimated that health care costs will be $13.8 billion higher than they will be under Healthy Wisconsin. That’s over $13.8 billion that can be pumped back into the economy of the state, rather than the coffers of large insurance companies.
Healthy Wisconsin Reduces the Cost of Government in Wisconsin: Wisconsin state and local governments are being hit hard by skyrocketing health care costs. Under Healthy Wisconsin, it is estimated that state and local government will save $1.3 billion, half of which will be used to reduce property taxes.
Healthy Wisconsin will Spur Job Creation: Right now Wisconsin’s high health care costs deter job creation. When companies consider adding jobs in Wisconsin, they see the high cost of health insurance as a tax on every new job they create. Healthy Wisconsin will give Wisconsin a competitive advantage by guaranteeing lower than average health insurance costs to every business in the state.
