Wisconsin Citizen's Action Blasts Scott Walker's Healthcare Pivot

Milwaukee, WI (PT) - Citizen's Action of Wisconsin released a highly critical statement blasting Governor Scott Walker’s pivot towards affordable healthcare insurance. In a press notice to Pontiac Tribune, they blasted Walker’s recent lip service as too little too late.

The political group makes their statement in advance of Governor Walker’s State Of The State address Wednesday.The release was issued by Robert Kraig, progressive strategist and executive director of Citizens Action of Wisconsin. “ Walkers' sudden interest in addressing the healthcare insurance affordability crisis will not undo the 7 years of damage his sabotage has done.” Kraig’s collective goes onto scold Walker's “pre-exisiting condition exclusions” for opening the door to insurance discrimination.

Throughout 2017 Governor Scott Walker advocated for state-focused healthcare approaches. He argued that key differences in state law might negatively impact healthcare implementations, and cost. The debate, raging around Medicaid, was punctuated by Republican attacks on Obama-era policies. Walker's newest shift, however, appears to support healthcare initiatives such as Obamacare.

As WEAU 13 suggests, perhaps the governor's turn towards legislation to which he’s vehemently opposed relates to the upcoming election. “We need to do what we can at the state level.” Walker said as he announced the proposal. “To stabilize our own healthcare market, and make healthcare more attainable.”

Citizens Action of Wisconsin regard Walker’s push toward state-focused healthcare as “a small step forward.” However, as their statement reads, Walker’s proposed polices pale in comparison to the scale of the problem. Executive Director Robert Kraig made a similar case after Citizens Action announced an anti-child poverty campaign. Kraig noted a willingness to initiate pilot programs dealing with poverty issues rather than actions to scale.

The group blasts Walker’s years attempting to “undermine the Affordable Care Act” (ACA) over party lines. Citizen Action lists several documented tactics Walker has used to stifle Obamacare including; Encouraging healthy people to buy substandard policies outside of the market, refusing to enact robust rate review, turning down Medicaid expansion, hamstringing health care navigators, rubber stamping health insurance industry mega mergers, and seeking waivers that would allow insurance companies to take larger profits.“

Premiums and deductibles have increased by a combined 209% in Wisconsin since 2000.” Citizen Action’s release reads. Noting that Governor Walker's “centerpiece” for his healthcare proposal funnels public money to private health insurance companies. Citizens Action feels the plan only “... Impacts very few Wisconsinites who are struggling to afford healthcare coverage, (having) a moderate impact on affordability.”

According to the release, Governor Walker’s proposal won’t reduce premiums for 83% of Wisconsinites covered under the ACA. While aiding 17% of those who’s income disqualifies them for federal tax credits, premiums will only drop by 4%. By contrast, premiums increased by 50% statewide between 2017-2018 alone, according to Citizens Action research. Rather, the group suggests polices to the scale of the healthcare affordability crisis, including some of the following:

Opening BadgerCare to everyone in Wisconsin as a public option would, at no cost to the state, reduce premiums and deductibles by an average of 24%. It would also help people who buy insurance on their own and small businesses, most of whom cannot afford to provide coverage to their employees.
Reversing Walker’s decision to turn down the Medicaid expansion money in the ACA could reduce premiums by about 7%.
Reversing the Walker Administration's decision to allow the sale of substandard plans in Wisconsin could reduce premiums by as much as 10%.

“Walker's new interest in protecting people with pre-existing conditions from discrimination by insurance companies is grossly inadequate. His proposal would allow insurance companies to trample the rights of anyone who’s had a gap in coverage, and does next to nothing to prevent people with serious conditions from being priced out of coverage.”“Insurance and pharmaceutical corporations are not in the business of securing affordable health care; they are driven by profit imperatives dictated by Wall Street. That’s why insurance companies will deny coverage to sick people and pharmaceutical corporations will price gouge if we let them. It is a simple truth that only we the people, through the agency of our own democratic government, can guarantee health care to everyone in Wisconsin.” - Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Wisconsin Citizen Action

Robert Kraig himself is quoted in the release as being amazed by Walker’s reliance on insurance company-dependent healthcare strategies. “Walker’s refusal to use the power of state government to guarantee affordable health care makes it impossible for him to meaningfully address the affordability crisis.” says Kraig.

By Isiah Holmes.