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For a monthly premium of $130, a [Badger Care]Plus Basic member has up to 10 physician visits, limited hospitalization, five emergency room visits annually, as well as generic medication and Badger Gold RX discount drug membership.

“This will meet about 95 percent of the basic medical needs of most people in the state;” says the Governor who concedes the coverage is not ideal for [those] used to more expansive coverage.

Doyle calls the new program a “bridge” to either a job with medical insurance or a slot opening up on the Plus Core Plan.

Governor Doyle’s government health care plan is quoted by him as costing $130 per month for those struggling to find affordable health insurance. This is an initial estimate and may end up being much higher. There are private plans already in existence that cost as low as $104 per month with comparable or stronger coverage than that which was laid out by Governor Doyle.

Additionally, without government mandates and regulations private plans could be offered at lower rates. In Florida a basic plan is offered as low as $23.70 a month. The governor’s Basic plan can unfairly function outside of state mandates and regulations placed on private insurers. As well, government reimburses pennies on the dollar for care shifting cost to hospitals and patients.

Why would government offer a sub-standard plan at an inflated price when cheaper and comparable or stronger plans exist? This leads me to believe ... it is about advancing government control of health care.

Make the health insurers compete for those on the waiting list. This would offer the lowest cost plan to consumers with the most generous benefits.

The Impact of Mandates. While mandates make health insurance more comprehensive, they also make it more expensive because mandates require insurers to pay for care consumers previously funded out of their own pockets. We estimate that mandated benefits currently increase the cost of basic health coverage from a little less than 20% to perhaps 50%, depending on the number of mandates, the benefit design and the cost of the initial premium. Mandating benefits is like saying to someone in the market for a new car, if you can’t afford a Cadillac loaded with options, you have to walk. Having that Cadillac would be nice, as would having a health insurance policy that covers everything one might want. But drivers with less money can find many other affordable car options; whereas when the price of health insurance soars, few other options exist.

Why Is the Number of Mandates Growing? Elected representatives find it difficult to oppose any legislation that promises enhanced care to potentially motivated voters. The sponsors of mandates know this fact of political life. As a result, government interference in and control of the health care system is steadily increasing. So too is the cost of health insurance.

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