Wis Legislature passes new health care program
A state-run program to provide basic health insurance for thousands of low-income Wisconsin residents waiting for care would be created under a bill that has passed the Legislature.By: The Associated Press, Superior Telegram
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state-run program to provide basic health insurance for thousands of low-income Wisconsin residents waiting for care would be created under a bill that has passed the Legislature.
The Assembly passed the bill 50-47 early Wednesday.
Gov. Jim Doyle proposed the program, nicknamed BadgerCare Basic, as a way to provide basic health care coverage for people without children who are on a waiting list for the BadgerCare Core plan. That plan stopped accepting new enrollments when funding ran out.
The waiting list is now around 34,000 people.
The new program will be paid for through premium and co-payments of those receiving coverage. Republican opponents say they think the state will pick end up picking up the tab.
The bill has cleared the Senate, but the Assembly adopted an amendment that would end the program on Dec. 31, 2013. The Senate now must concur before the bill can go to Doyle for his signature.
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