Supporters of a health insurance Public Option stopped by the Oneida County courthouse Thursday to promote the idea of having a public option insurance plan sponsored by two legislative Democrats.
The BadgerCare Public Option Bill would give Wisconsinites the option of purchasing BadgerCare on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Joel Lewis...speaking for Citizen Action of Wisconsin.. says an analysis of rates by the group say not only could the rate spike be avoided, but that Wisconsinites who buy health insurance on their own would pay substantially less than current rates.
Joel Lewis says the Public Option can be a hedge against changes....
"....so the Public Option offers a more affordable option than what's going to be on the marketplace next year. It opens up the choices for working class people and the plans they want to choose for their families...."
He says after President Trump's executive order, costs for those using the Affordable Care Act could rise sharply....
"....here in Rhinelander, 55 percent. Where I'm from in Marathon county we're going to get hit the hardest. So the executive order allows those premiums to skyrocket. It also allows insurance companies the option to go back to offering the plans that don't have essential health benefits. You're going to see plans on the market that(cost less) but they don't cover as much...."
Lewis says it also will enable companies to again choose not to cover people with pre-existing conditions, and those that do to dramatically raise premiums. Lewis directed those interested to the Citizen Action of Wisconsin website.
