Friday, January 30, 2009

More People On State Health Care Programs

This shouldn’t be a surprise. 

Enrollment in state health care programs such as BadgerCare Plus has increased by about 238,000 people - or 35% - in the past six years and is expected to rise as the economy continues to struggle.

Medicaid programs provide some level of health care to about 1 in 6 Wisconsin residents.

The state-federal program provides care to low-income families with children younger than 21, and to people who are elderly, or disabled and impoverished. It is one of the biggest programs in state government.

Enrollment reached 926,600 people last month, up from 688,500 in January 2003, when Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle took office.

How to fund the $5 billion-a-year program - which faces a deficit of about $1.4 billion through the next two-year budget - is one of the biggest long-term questions looming for the state.

This is a self-imposed budget conundrum.  Doyle and the legislature have spent the past few years lowering entry requirements and making it easier for people to join these programs.  They wanted more people in these programs.  They shouldn’t be surprised now that they have to find a way to pay for it.

(8) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0656 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. When Tommy and Peggy Rosenzweig built Badger I told them that this will ultimately bankrupt the state as Medicare will bankrupt the US.
      It is happening sooner than I thought.  Healthy Wisconsin will be far worse.
      the only solution unless they dump it as Hawaii did is to get more people into jobs and they refuse to do what is needed to do that.
      This is a fiasco that was created by both the GOP and the liberals.
      So much for fiscal responsibility.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2009 at 1022 hrs


  2. What a bastard that Doyle. Let these people die and decrease the surplus population.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2009 at 1343 hrs


  3. In order to support your argument, Keith, you’re going to have to demonstrate that the death rate due to lack of medical care decreased in the past six years.  Absent that data, you’re just blowing smoke.

    Posted by Owen on January 30, 2009 at 1347 hrs


  4. Isn’t Keith head of Zero Population Growth?  Yes. we’ve made it for over 150 years without Badger Plus and the rest of the welfare programs and only these really expensive programs will save Us????
      What baloney.  when people re responsible for their own welfare things work much better.  when Uncle sam runs it, you know like freddie Mac it becomes a disaster.
      If you think medicine is expensive now, wait until it’s free.  Quality down, taxes up!!!!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2009 at 1422 hrs


  5. Isn’t it funny how Dohnal always shows up throughout his own tale of history as the conveniently placed voice of reason?  I’m guessing he also was there to warn the Packers about drafting Tony Mandarich in 1989, and cautioned Lincoln to avoid the theater that fateful night as well.

    Posted by Recess Supervisor on January 30, 2009 at 1848 hrs


  6. If the economy was not in the crapper not so many people would be signing up for Badgercare.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2009 at 2257 hrs


  7. Some people have intelligence, knowledge of history, experience and common sense.  Some people just have a big mouth.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2009 at 2340 hrs


  8. How long will it take for the state to issue IOU’s to the medical field.  They will either run out of money in the next decade or have make a radical increase in taxes.
      But who cares?  It’s only monopoly money we’re throwing around.
      Look at the straight downhill ride that Doyle has taken us on.  Now he has a democratic majority to join him on the water slide.
    Whopee!!!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 30, 2009 at 2351 hrs


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