CONTACT: Amy Hasenberg, (608) 266-2839
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker visited HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and Aspirus Hospital in Wausau today to discuss his Health Care Stability Plan included in his Ambitious Agenda for Wisconsin. As proposed, Governor Walker’s plan would request a State Innovation Waiver to lower premiums for those in Obamacare’s individual market, enact legislation that prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions, and request a permanent waiver for the state’s SeniorCare program.
“Since Washington has failed to act, Wisconsin is stepping up to meet the health care needs of families across the state,” said Governor Walker. “Our plan will make health care more affordable and accessible by lowering premiums for those on Obamacare’s individual market, providing prescription drug coverage for our seniors, and protecting those with preexisting conditions.”
Governor Walker is calling on the State Senate to pass pre-existing condition protection legislation, which passed the Wisconsin State Assembly as Assembly Bill 365 in June 2017. The bill, as amended, prohibits a group health benefit plan from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion or any coverage limitations related to a preexisting condition. It also prohibits a group or individual health insurance policy from taking into account a person’s health status while setting coverage rates.
The State Innovation Waiver, a 1332 Waiver, would allow Wisconsin to stabilize rising health care premiums in the individual marketplace. Governor Walker’s plan would help to cover expensive medical claims for health insurers that are participating in the marketplace.
SeniorCare provides prescription drug coverage for senior citizens. The state has successfully received four past waiver extensions, and under Governor Walker’s Health Care Stability Plan, the state would seek a change in federal law to make the SeniorCare waiver permanent for approximately 60,000 Wisconsin’s seniors who utilize the program each month.
