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8/20/2010
Is the glass half empty or half full?
3% of children in Wisconsin lack health insurance. Wow. That sounds amazing to me. But apparently, it’s not good enough.
Wisconsin is one of six states participating in an initial roll-out of the national health coverage campaign, which is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The campaign will recruit athletic coaches at 20 high schools around Wisconsin, as well as community groups such as the Boys and Girls Club, youth soccer, and the United Way, to get the word out to families eligible for state or federal health insurance programs.
…. Though more than 230,000 people have enrolled in Wisconsin's BadgerCare program since its 2008 launch, 3% of children in the state still lack insurance, [Jason] Helgerson [State Medicaid Director] said. Many of those youngsters and their families actually qualify for insurance but their parents don't know they are eligible. A family of four that earns roughly $44,000 a year is eligible for BadgerCare, he said.
3%. Wisconsin has one of the highest health insurance coverage ratios in the country – and we’re targeted for even more spending to get that number lower. Yes, I understand that Obamacare has promised to cover every last living human in the universe. And yes, I truly do understand the importance of health care for our state’s little ones – but seriously, in public policy circles, what constitutes “success” in this battle?
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
To Obama and perhaps Doyle (who knows), success is bankruptcy of the U.S. Thank God we'll have elections soon.
John Hyland (Fri Aug 20 08:57:36 2010)
You said it, John!! Come November, we're going to drive the scoundrels back into their caves!! Now is the time to make sure everyone is working for candidates, supporting the cause. Work, involvement is required ... it won't happen just from blogging.
Tom (Fri Aug 20 10:00:15 2010)
Just because you "have insurance" doesn't mean you can afford health care. The high deductable policies that most individual policies owners have cover nothing until you reach the deductable and many, many ,many people put off needed preventive or normal care because they can't afford it. Yes, 3% is a good number but none of the reforms went far enough so that people who cannot afford to go to the doctor can get there absent a catastrophic problem. I would like to see an honest survey of the naysayers about health care reform:
First: who pays for your insurance? You, your employer, Medicare (the taxpaper)?
Second: do you know what the cost is paid for by others? Of that cost how much do you pay?
Third: Do you know what medical care cosrs, per procedure when you need it?
Come on now how many of you are out there freeloading on your employers then nay saying about reform.
Now for those of you who are qualified to speak because you know something, can you imaging a family of four, earning $45,000 trying to pay $800 per month for a high deductible policy then having to pay for lets say...a broken leg that doesn't reach deductible and also keep their home? Imagine paying $10,000 per annum for health insurance that covers nothing with gross of $45,000? If you can do it please let me know how
dave allen (Sat Aug 21 08:15:02 2010)
Even better, Dave, imagine paying your dr. direct without wasting money on middlemen (aka insurance co's). Nobody can answer your questions, though, because the true COST of a service/procedure/visit is hidden under mountains of paperwork, multiple middlemen and workers each needing their cut, etc. We haven't had a true free market system since the 1930s.
emily matthews (Sat Aug 21 14:55:00 2010)
Emily,
I agree totally with what you said. However medical care as a market will never be like cars for example. But it is certainly at the opposite end of the spectrum today. The medical industry in this country is the furthest from an efficient private market as one can get.
Dave
dave allen (Sat Aug 21 15:51:49 2010)
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