New Report Confirms Citizen Action Research on Wisconsin-Minnesota Health Insurance Rate Disparity
Thanks Governer (sic) Walker, for screwing us again.
http://www.citizenactionwi.org/new_report_confirms_citizen_action_research_on_wisconsin_minnesota_health_insurance_rate_disparity
St. Paul Pioneer Press and Kaiser Family Foundation Research Confirm Citizen Actions Report
The Citizen Action report released in late October, A Tale of Two States: Why Wisconsins Health Insurance Individual Marketplace Premiums are Dramatically Higher than Minnesotas, shows that two critical decisions made differently in the two states explain a substantial portion of the rate disparity. The full report can be downloaded here.
Key Findings in Citizen Action Report: Wisconsin health insurance marketplace premiums for single coverage will be on average 79% to 99% higher than premiums in Minnesota, before tax credits are applied. That is a difference of over $1,800 a year. The health insurance cost differential will be even worse for some major Wisconsin cities. Rates in La Crosse are 136% higher than the Minnesota average, rates in Eau Claire are 116% higher, and rates in Milwaukee are 112% higher.
Two key decisions in Wisconsins Affordable Care Act implementation play a substantial role in raising health insurance rates in Wisconsin relative to Minnesota: the decision to reject enhanced federal Medicaid dollars, and the decision not to implement rigorous review of health insurance rates.
Wisconsin has the opportunity to bring down rates by accepting enhanced federal Medicaid funds and using state powers such as reviewing and rejecting excessive rates to make health insurance more affordable. Wisconsins rejection of a state-based marketplace strip policymakers of additional tools for moderating health insurance rates.