“Over the years I have seen the devastation of company denials on families [and] witnessed the financial devastation on families that cannot get health insurance,” wrote a local insurance broker. “I urge you to continue your fight to get Wisconsin involved in these exchanges.”
The woman who wrote me echoed the words of many brokers who want to see a state-run rather than a federally-run health exchange in Wisconsin.
Governor Walker announced he would have the federal government create an exchange. This action set off a chorus of complaints among traditionally conservative leaning organizations.
The Governor’s justification was the state would be on the hook for the cost of an exchange. But the Affordable Care Act specifically requires the exchange be self-supporting. Therefore, state support would be contrary to the law. The bill I wrote to create a Wisconsin based exchange details how to accomplish a self-supporting exchange.
