Healthy Wisconsin Re-introduced in State Senate

Healthy Wisconsin , a plan that would guarantee quality, affordable health care for every person who lives or works in the state, has been re-introduced as separate legislation in the state Senate, but the 2007-08 regular session of the Legislature concluded without action on the bill. Healthy Wisconsin was first introduced last summer as part of the 2007-09 state budget, but was removed in September.

At that time, Senate Democrats stated they remained committed to health care reform and said they would introduce Healthy Wisconsin as a stand -alone bill. That bill, SB 562, will be the subject of a public hearing Monday (March 10, 2008) by the Senate Committee on Health , Human Services , Insurance and Job Creation.

An initial review of the bill finds a couple of changes from the version introduced in the bill budget last June. Those changes include:

• A 3 year phase-in for small employers (those with 10 or less employees).

• A cap on the amount assessed on dual-income families. The cap is 4% of the Social Security limit ($102,000 in 2008). 

• Implementation date is delayed by one year.

Senate Democrats had unveiled the Healthy Wisconsin reform plan last summer, saying it would guarantee quality, affordable health care for every person who lives or works in the state. The Healthy Wisconsin plan would guarantee a choice of high-quality public and private health plans in every region of the state, according to the Wisconsin Health Care Reform Campaign Coalition, of which WEAC is a member.

Find out more about the health care crisis in Wisconsin by visiting the OnWEAC Members Only site. Click on Cyberlobby at the top right, and select the ?Health Care Costs Crisis Resources? link.

Related Links:
Sen. Jon Erpenbach's News Release
Healthy Wisconsin withdrawn from Senate budget proposal [OnWEAC 9/21/08]

Posted March 7, 2008