Wisconsin Department of Health Services
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The liberal group Citizens Action is coming to Wausau today. They want Wisconsin to accept federal money to expand the BadgerCare health insurance program. We are one of 10 states that’s said “no”.
The first “no” came from then-governor Scott Walker. Assembly speaker Robin Vos has been a stalwart “no” since then. And they are both right.
Why?
Because the states that have already accepted the funding are making a bet; a bet that Congress will continue to fund the expansion. The rules were that expanded eligibility for BadgerCare are permanent, but the funding is not. Now most people think that Congress wouldn’t make funding cuts that would take away healthcare from millions of people. But they might. And states would have to make up the difference.
And Speaker Vos has the right idea. We don’t want more people depending on the government for the basics. We don’t consider it a success if more people are depending on foodshare to eat. It’s no different with health insurance.
And if you know anything about BadgerCare, you know the benefits are so generous that once in it, people will do anything to stay on it. Most BadgerCare recipients don’t pay premiums, they don’t have co-pays when they see the doctor, there are no emergency room charges, and they get prescription drugs for $1. That’s a much better deal than if you pay for your own insurance.
Consider the case of Peggy McDowell, who is part of today’s Citizens Action road show. She testified at a budget hearing last month in Minocqua that she is divorcing her husband to remain eligible for BadgerCare. As a couple, they make $100 over the limit to qualify. What she is saying is that she is on the dole, permanently. She will finagle her personal finances, up to and including the holy vows of matrimony, to have the taxpayers cover her health care.
Ms. McDowell, I have news for you. There are eligibility cutoffs for every government program. Even if we expanded BadgerCare there would be another family that fails the income test just like you. Should they decide that their financial condition can never get better because they’d lose their health insurance? Should they turn down raises and promotions to stay poor? What’s needed is a system where people get temporary help to get back on their feet. Not a program where people game the system.
Chris Conley
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