Sen. Erpenbach: Badger Poll shows support for Healthy Wisconsin strong

5/7/2008

Contact: Senator Jon Erpenbach
608-266-6670

61 percent Support Replacing Current With System Administered By State

Madison – Even without assurances that participants could keep their own doctors and move freely between plans, 61 percent of those polled by a Badger Poll released yesterday support a state run health care system to replace the current one.

“The poll shows once again that people think it is time for Wisconsin to lead the nation in health care reform. Even without the knowledge of the strong individual choice components of the Healthy Wisconsin plan, people want the state to step up. Health care is not an issue that will go away, and people won’t fall for the smoke and mirrors of tinkering around the edges,” said Erpenbach.

The poll also revealed only 5 percent of those surveyed thought the state of Wisconsin was NOT at all responsible for making sure that all residents have access to both high quality and affordable health care. 50% said that the costs of health care are extremely problematic. Only 2% of the people in Wisconsin say there are no problems.

“I think these numbers really drive home how ineffective the “market driven” plans are. People think that the state needs to do something and they believe we are the responsible party for making sure people have access to affordable health care. Clearly people think this is our job,” Erpenbach said. “The Legislature has to answer this call. Legislators that want to pass the buck to the “market” should wake up and see the reality.”

According to a May 5th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story from the New York Times, health insurance costs are being passed onto employees so that even those who have health insurance are struggling to pay for it, especially in the economic downturn. According to the story, the average annual employee’s premium for a family in 2001 was $1,800; that number rose to $3,300 today.

Over 65% of the people in Wisconsin that are uninsured are employed. (Healthy Wisconsin Council Report) At least half of all personal bankruptcies in the United States are the result of medical expenses. Over 75% of this group of people who had to declare bankruptcy were insured at the onset of their illness. (Health Affairs)

http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=125481

He'll be lucky if there's a single GOPpie left in the Assembly to call him fearless leader next year.

Idiot should have compromised when he could.

Have never had to pay more than $80-100 for a 1 month supply of injections for my MS medication. My new insurance kicked in at work the other day.

My Co-Pay...

That's CO-PAY....

EACH MONTH....

Wait for it.....




























$538

:scared:

I am being referred to programs for prescription assistance right now. I hope they get something solved before I run out of shots!

I can't imagine how I'd manage that, FSC. You have all my sympathy trying to deal with insurance companies.

We may be eligible for a program that offers free drugs. That's looking really good right now if it works! I got a call back yesterday.

Keep your fingers crossed! :hi:

who have been working on this bill for a long time. :toast: Here's to Erpenbach, Miller, and Robson...

I had a cat with some tartar around her teeth and the vet prescribed clyndimiacin (not sure how that is spelled now), it was something like 8 bucks for the cat. I had an infected tooth recently and my prescription was more like 80 bucks for the same drug. How is that possible. I said the next time I need medical care, I am going to my vet!

My dog had emergency surgery when he was 14 for bloat. He had an x-ray, iv fluids, a major surgical operation with 3 vets involved in the middle of the night, and 2 days of inpatient care during which he received very expensive medication to normalize his heart rhythm. The bill was $2200. They saved his life and he is now 15 and a half.

Imagine what it would cost for a human patient.