With the clock ticking, an advocacy group is asking insurance companies to come up with what are called 'low-out of pocket' insurance plans.
This week Citizen Action of Wisconsin reports on July 22, insurers need to submit 2017 plan designs to the state for the health marketplace, HealthCare.gov. The group was asking the companies to offer what are known as Low Out-Of-Pocket health plans that provide health care access at costs that working families can afford by reducing deductibles.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin Executive Director Robert Kraig says one out of five people didn't fill a prescription last year because they couldn't afford it. He's hoping to pressure insurance companies to offer an alternative, less costly, plan...
"....we're encouraging health insurance providers to offer these low-out-of-pocket plans. They have until July 22 to put forward to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance what plans they will be offering...."
Spokesperson Kevin Kane sites what the deductible costs are now...
".....Wisconsinites, broadly and on average, are paying $3,347 dollars per year just in doctor visit deductible, $1,203 dollars on average before the insurance company offers to help out..."
That second figure is for prescription drugs.
Kraig says Wisconsin's medical prices are the second highest in the nation.
Kraig says if Wisconsin insurers offer “Low Out-Of-Pocket” policies for 2017, and 25 percent of all Wisconsin consumers purchasing on Healthcare.gov enroll, they would see a collective reduction in medical and prescription drug deductibles of over $270 million.
More information on the report is here.
