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.