Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Wisconsin Governor Lays Out Children’s Health Plan
Wisconsin’s rate of uninsured children is one of the lowest in America, but Governor Jim Doyle still wants to reduce the amount of children without insurance. He recently laid out the details of BadgerCare Plus, a program to help insure the estimated 71,000 children without coverage.
Families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for BadgerCare Plus plans for their children. Depending on income, families will be able to buy insurance for their children at premiums ranging from $10 to $68.53 a month, reported to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Children in families earning less than $38,202 will be eligible for coverage with other state programs.
“We have a moral obligation to provide every child in Wisconsin with affordable, quality health care,” said Governor Doyle. “With BadgerCare Plus, we will reach out to every family across this state to ensure their children get the care they need at a price they can afford.”
The BadgerCare Plus program will begin February 1, 2008.
Along with the program, state health care officials will try to cut costs and get children covered faster. While BadgerCare applications are being completed, children can receive temporary insurance cards. Families will also be able to apply for coverage in community health centers and hospitals.
The state will also save $12 million in administrative costs by allowing families to report only drastic changes in income.
Wisconsin’s Medicaid Director, Jason Helgerson, said that it would take at least two years to make all of these changes. He also conceded that it would be difficult to get every eligible child covered. But he was optimistic of the program.
“We have a golden opportunity to make sure every child in Wisconsin has access to healthcare,” said Helgerson.
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