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3/25/2010
Wisconsin can/could/should? opt out of ObamaCare
Most predict Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen won’t (can’t – needs approval of the Governor or one house of the Legislature – fat chance of either of those happening) join the fray when 14 other Attorney’s General around the nation sue to prohibit the federal government from mandating that their residents must buy health insurance or else (well, or be fined).
Looks like Wisconsin can do it on its own. Of course, given the Dem majorities in the legislature, maybe there’s a fat chance of that ever happening either. But then again, could we dream about bipartisan reform, Wisconsin once again leading the way?
Marshfield, Gunderson Hospitals, John Toussaint, John Torinus. Wisconsin has a ton of reformers that know what they’re doing. And Wisconsin already has the 2nd highest percentage of its residents covered with health insurance.
The Huffington Post yesterday pointed out that the new health care reform law lets states opt out of the individual mandate. How about that?
Hot Air’s Allahpundit expands on the subject and adds details. I don’t know that the rules are fair, but Wisconsin ought to be looking into it.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Jo,
It is unlikely that Wisconsin would opt. out. But if it did and set up it's own plan it would still have to abide by the major provisions (per the Huffington article). Some of these are:
-no denial based on pre-existing conditions
-no dropping coverage based on illness
-35% tax credit (goes to 50%) for small businesses
-women can't be discriminated against because they're women
-large buying groups to encourage buying power and competition
-need to buy insurance or be covered by an employer so someone is paying for your insurance instead of being the uninsured but medically needy
Just which one of these items (or all of these) should be killed if it could be and why?
dave allen (Thu Mar 25 06:56:49 2010)
Yes, Wisconsin should opt out because it is a terrible bill, but we'd have to install a plan using the federal benefits as a floor. I doubt they'll insist that we also penalize businesses as long as we provide equal or better coverage. What would be smart is a Wisconsin single-payer bill that covers 100% of the people and removes businesses from the equation and leaves them to spend their money on creating WI jobs instead. That would attract new business and jobs to the state.
But remember the disclaimer: IF we were smart!
Jack Lohman (Thu Mar 25 09:17:46 2010)
Should but won't. Wisconsin (sadly) is a Nanny State.
Jeff (Thu Mar 25 09:19:20 2010)
Jo,
I'm ok with what you propose so long as the Buying groups would be large enough.
dave allen (Thu Mar 25 11:03:14 2010)
>>> "Wisconsin already has the 2nd highest percentage of its residents covered with health insurance."
So that's why Wisconsin has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in America. Never would have guessed it.
Jack Lohman (Thu Mar 25 11:52:04 2010)
Fighting over which state has the most expensive system (whether true or not) is like fighting over which lifeboat on the titanic has more food. The ship is sinking folks and only our ship, not the ships of other countries.
dave allen (Thu Mar 25 12:07:04 2010)
Yes Dave, but we have a mindset to throw members of the other party off the lifeboats, rather than saving the ship. It makes absolutely zero sense to me that we have some intent on saving the private insurance market when it is obsolete, costly as hell, and transferring wealth to an industry rather than to saving the country.
Jack Lohman (Thu Mar 25 12:19:47 2010)
Jack,
I'm in agreement with you. Unfortunately a bill that would have taken on the insurance industry and made real changes on other cost factors in our system wouldn't have passed. I am hopeful that once the American people realize that this bill is a move in the right direction there will be other changes made. Up to this point the very concept of being able to rein in the insurance system was deemed fantasy.
dave allen (Thu Mar 25 14:35:47 2010)
Yes, it goes without saying - or with saying actually - that federal requirements must be met - or waivers received. I don't think I said anything about killing one of the standards. I'm thinking though, that the route to getting there might be different. I wonder if we could get to taxable premiums and a drive to HSAs and high deductible policies - an experiment in driving more efficient utilization and accordingly, cost control.
Jo (Thu Mar 25 16:20:20 2010)
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