Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Starting now, state workers, families to pay more for medical care
Wisconsin State Journal ^ | 1-1-12 | Steven Verburg

Posted on 01/04/2012 7:28:28 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic

State workers and their families will pay more for medical care starting Jan. 1 under the latest changes to emerge from a state law that wiped out most public employee union rights.

The changes in the state health plan require 183,000 participants to pay 10 percent of their bills for doctor visits, tests, surgeries and hospitalizations up to an annual maximum of $500 for single people and $1,000 for families.

Health plan administrators have explained the new system previously, but they expect to get a lot more questions when workers begin reaching into their pockets.

"I think the reality will hit when the bill comes in the mail," said Lisa Ellinger, insurance services administrator for the state Department of Employee Trust Funds.

Part of budget repair bill

The changes are part of a 5 percent reduction in the state health insurance system required under Act 10, the so-called budget repair bill that set off weeks of mass demonstrations at the Capitol before it was passed by the Republican majority in the Legislature and signed by Gov. Scott Walker.

The law stripped most public sector workers of collective bargaining rights, and since August


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: budgetrepair; cheezheads; insurance; nomenklatura; pensions; union; unions; walker
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

1 posted on 01/04/2012 7:28:32 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

That’s still a lot better plan than most non-goverment folks get!


2 posted on 01/04/2012 7:29:48 AM PST by fruser1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fruser1

They should have to pay 100 percent, since I pay their salaries and I sure as heck don’t get 90 percent covered!

Fire them all if they strike.


3 posted on 01/04/2012 7:33:54 AM PST by BenKenobi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic; Hunton Peck; Diana in Wisconsin; TaMoDee; P from Sheb; Shady; DonkeyBonker; ..

WISCONSIN MEDICAL CARE/PENSION Ping

This is a recap of the policies that actually went into effect Jan. 1. It is worth it to read the whole article to separate fact from fiction.

If you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interests ping list, just FReep Mail me with your screen name and it shall be done. Thanks.


4 posted on 01/04/2012 7:34:33 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

Hope they stop and thank the taxpayers for the fact they still have better health coverage than most of them.


5 posted on 01/04/2012 7:35:53 AM PST by formosa (Formosa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic
The changes in the state health plan require 183,000 participants to pay 10 percent of their bills for doctor visits, tests, surgeries and hospitalizations up to an annual maximum of $500 for single people and $1,000 for families.

They have to pay a co-pay like a common private sector conservative! Someone cue the "oh, the huge manatee" picture.

6 posted on 01/04/2012 7:36:47 AM PST by Thane_Banquo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic
"I think the reality will hit when the bill comes in the mail," said Lisa Ellinger, insurance services administrator for the state Department of Employee Trust Funds.

Freakin spare me the sob story. The "reality" is that these people have it so much better than most private company employees that it isn't funny. They all need to get fired and find real jobs.

7 posted on 01/04/2012 7:37:20 AM PST by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fruser1

Absolutely! Up until now, they paid NOTHING.


8 posted on 01/04/2012 7:39:55 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

Oh the humanity! Life as we know it is about to end.


9 posted on 01/04/2012 7:46:49 AM PST by Huskrrrr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Huskrrrr

Welcome to the rest of state employees throughout the country. My heart bleeds for them.


10 posted on 01/04/2012 7:49:46 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

they’ll just get the money from somewhere else:

“Baldwin-Woodville school district workers get $500 bonuses”

http://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front_page/article_eb4310f6-b2d3-5c14-8ef7-da2efc950d9b.html


11 posted on 01/04/2012 7:55:28 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB (Congress: Looting the future to bribe the present.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WOBBLY BOB

Incredible... The unions own the school boards. Who represents the taxpayers?


12 posted on 01/04/2012 8:04:59 AM PST by aquila48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

Just like everybody else.


13 posted on 01/04/2012 8:06:54 AM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

“”The changes in the state health plan require 183,000 participants to pay 10 percent of their bills for doctor visits, tests, surgeries and hospitalizations up to an annual maximum of $500 for single people and $1,000 for families””


I wish I had such a Rolls Royce Plan. I have to pay up to an annual maximum of $6,000.

This was a good first step in Wisconsin, now they need to make further cuts in salary and benefits.


14 posted on 01/04/2012 8:22:12 AM PST by Presbyterian Reporter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

Wow. I wish I had a plan that good. Heck, I could pay quadruple their new annual maximum and still have a savings over my current plan.


15 posted on 01/04/2012 9:15:14 AM PST by DesertSapper (Inna-gadda-da-vida!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DesertSapper

You are correct, with the new required employee contributions, modest co-pays and low deductible, the state and other public workers under the state health insurance plan get a great deal compared to what private workers pay if they are lucky enough to work for a company that offers benefits.

Plus, Walker’s reforms broke the strangle hold the teacher’s union health plan had on most school districts in the state. Now, districts can ask for health insurance bids from a variety of health insurers, not just the WEAC Trust. Faced with this the WAEC Trust cut its rates to stay in the running.


16 posted on 01/04/2012 9:37:46 AM PST by RicocheT (Eat the rich only if you're certain it's your last meal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic

Forgive me if I missed these details (trying to get some work done today), but do you know whether they pay any premiums? Or just this 10% deductible up to $1,000 for family? If they have no premium expense, what a GREAT FREAKIN’ DEAL thay are getting!

Plus, I think paying co-pays & deductibles helps to keep people from overutilization.


17 posted on 01/04/2012 10:00:42 AM PST by NEMDF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic
State workers and their families will pay more for medical care starting Jan. 1

You mean like everyone else? Horrors /s

18 posted on 01/04/2012 10:11:30 AM PST by Vinnie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NEMDF

I don’t know about premiums. They used to pay NOTHING. Just NOTHING for either their health insurance or their retirement benefits (which are lavish). I think they have to pay something now, but I think it is small.


19 posted on 01/04/2012 10:15:59 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: afraidfortherepublic; Hunton Peck; Diana in Wisconsin; TaMoDee; P from Sheb; Shady; DonkeyBonker; ..

I just received the following from the Club for Growth! ROTFLOL!

Mayor Barrett (Dem) Saved Milwaukee $25 million

Dear Friend,

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has become the official poster child for Governor Walker’s budget reforms. That’s right. The unfailingly liberal mayor took a right turn on public employee benefits, and used the Governor’s reforms to save taxpayers $25 million a year.

In fact, during the debate over collective bargaining changes, Barrett even said the law requiring public employees to contribute to their health care and pension benefits didn’t go far enough because it excluded police and firefighters. Barrett complained that they were receiving “Cadillac benefits”.

Last but not least, Mayor Barrett sought to use the Governor’s reforms in order to get around a ten year old legal settlement with city workers. “It is my hope that all public employees should be required to pay more toward their pension,” Barrett wrote in a letter to Governor Walker.

The Wisconsin Club for Growth thanks Mayor Barrett for helping Governor Walker make his case. More importantly, we thank him for saving Milwaukee taxpayers as much as $36 million in 2012 through health care benefit changes he didn’t have to negotiate with unions, as a result of Governor Walker’s reforms.

Today, the Wisconsin Club for Growth launched several billboards in Milwaukee to thank Mayor Barrett-— for using Governor Walker’s reforms! Now we need your help to keep them up.

(appeal for money follows)


20 posted on 01/04/2012 11:57:44 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson