Universal Healthcare
Universal healthcare coverage in Wisconsin: It's not just a dream. It's a possibility – without reworking the existing healthcare system. In making this proposal, we recognize the existence of all players in the health care system, and attempt to work with them to achieve the goal of health care for all. 91% Wisconsin residents already have health care – let's complete the job by covering everybody!
The Solution
Society can do better. It must do better. Wisconsin Health Care for All Inc. has looked at eight plans for universal coverage in Wisconsin. While the "single-payer, universal coverage" model has advantages, we believe it is not politically practical at this point.
After considerable legal, economic and political study, we have endorsed a "provide-or-pay" plan for Wisconsin. Non-insuring businesses are required to either provide coverage, or contribute to a fund that buys coverage for their employees. Under provide-or-pay, nothing changes for businesses that already offer quality coverage. Unemployed, self-employed, retired and young people will buy coverage through additional low rate insurance pools. Provide-or-pay will not destabilize existing insurance coverage, and it will not affect doctor-patient relationships -- except that it will make this relationship available to more people in the state.
We believe a provide-or-pay plan has these advantages:
Provides all Wisconsin residents with access to quality, affordable health care:
- Every adult resident will have access to affordable, comprehensive care.
- All children will be covered.
- Parity for mental health services.
- Preventive care and well-child care covered.
- Chronic-disease management covered.
- Does not affect BadgerCare (for low-income families with children), SeniorCare/Medicare (for older people), or Medicaid (for low-income people).
Fair to taxpayers and to employers who already help pay for employees' coverage:
- Taxpayers and insuring employers can stop subsidizing businesses that fail to insure their workers.
- Will not raise the budget deficit. It is designed to be self-supporting without public funds.
- Gives small businesses and individuals better access to quality, affordable benefits.
- Individuals (self-employed, unemployed or retired) will buy into the plan at low group rates.
- Companies that offer quality insurance coverage will not see increased costs, and may see savings in the long run.
The Strategy
We invite you to join us in a two-year push to achieve health care for all in Wisconsin. We will work with members of the Madison City Council to create a model law for Madison. We may also use the citizen ballot to create that model law for Madison. Then we will move on to other local governments around the state. We intend to create citizen lobbyists across the state to push the model law in their local communities. The end result will be a broad risk pool and statewide universal health care.