Friday, January 23, 2009

WPRI: Healthy Wisconsin Would Attract Uninsured From Other States

Well, duh. 

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute released a report Thursday that warned people without health insurance would move to the state if it provided universal health insurance, potentially increasing the cost of the program.

Whether Healthy Wisconsin stands any chance of being passed by the Legislature this year is uncertain. The state budget deficit could dominate the session, and the prospect of significant health care reform being passed by Congress could make legislators wary of taking on the issue here.

Healthy Wisconsin’s approach to health care reform also might be incompatible with Washington’s approach. The state Senate approved the legislation last year but it died in the Assembly.

Sen. Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Schofield) has said that the legislation, with some changes, will be introduced in this session..

WPRI President George Lightbourn said the conservative think tank, which opposes the Healthy Wisconsin proposal, wanted to call attention the potential influx of people who are uninsured.

The legislation as the state Senate approved it last year included a waiting period before some people could be eligible for coverage. But that requirement, the think tank contends, could be unconstitutional.

(6) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1950 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute released a report Thursday that warned people without health insurance would move to the state if it provided universal health insurance, potentially increasing the cost of the program.

    Well Yea.

    Wisconsin has to somehow get the welfare queens that we lost after welfare reform.

    Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on January 23, 2009 at 2013 hrs


  2. When WI’s welfare benefits were more generous than neighboring states, many out staters came here or commuted here for the checks.  The same will happen with freebie health insurance, just like an open soda can attracts hornets in the summer.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 24, 2009 at 1239 hrs


  3. We have some of the highest priced health Insurance in the country and is likely that businesses don’t want to pay those high costs. Why is it not reasonable to think that if we lowered those costs for businesses that more would look to Wisconsin when relocating. Our businesses pay more than what they should have to and that is a major reason they are laying off or closing.
    The Healthy Wisconsin plan states that they must live here for one year unless they are pregnant.
    The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute is a partisan group much like its counterparts One Wisconsin Now and Move On. We don’t take their word as gospel and should not take the word of WPRI for fact either.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 24, 2009 at 1253 hrs


  4. The Healthy Wisconsin plan states that they must live here for one year unless they are pregnant.

    And what do ya wanna bet that just as soon as these people hit the Wisconsin state line the EPT test comes back as positive? It really doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out.

    OOPS sorry. I used the phrase “these people.” Think Joan Kessler and Pat Curley will be upset with me?

    Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on January 24, 2009 at 1320 hrs


  5. Shouldn’t we be asking WHY health insurance costs more in WI?  It wouldn’t have anything to do with all the extra requirements that WI makes plans cover would it? 

    How about trying to allow ala carte plans?  So the single guy doesn’t have to carry maternity care?  Or for the empty-nesters that don’t need pediatric or autism coverage?  Why should they, or their employers, have to pay more for coverage they don’t require?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 24, 2009 at 1350 hrs


  6. When they go to work they will have to pay their share. You are assuming they will not work at all. We need to do something and fighting it without offering solutions is such a waste. All businesses should run the numbers and look at how much they would save under this plan. Local and state governments would save a lot of money which would hopefully reduce property taxes.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 24, 2009 at 1357 hrs


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