Wisconsin Legislative Leadership: Santas or Scrooges?

 

Today, December 2, Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee voted to approve Special Session bills to continue BadgerCare Plus benefits for parents between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level until the end of March and extend HIRSP benefits (State HIRSP) as well. Unfortunately, the coverage extension means that Governor Walker breaks a commitment to eliminate coverage gaps and start coverage for over 90,000 low-income, childless adults who expected BadgerCare Plus coverage on January 1, 2014. The Appleton Post Crescent Editorial Board wrote this weekend, "We hope our leaders don't turn into Scrooges this season. Let's make this right and cover everyone through March, even if it costs $23 million to protect the neediest of the needy." Will our legislative leaders be Santas or Scrooges? We discuss this more inside this Newsletter!

Also in this issue, the SHOP Exchange enrollment is pushed back while the Feds say Healthcare.gov is up and working. In this edition of the Update, we look at the federal Marketplace HealthCare.gov as people have 21 days left to apply and pay for insurance to have active coverage on January 1, 2014.

Read about these breaking news items, case tips, HealthWatch coalition activities, recent articles and more in this week’s Update newsletter. Thanks to all of the current members, subscribers, and supporters--you make the HealthWatch Update possible!

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