Gov. Jim Doyle introduced a health-care plan Thursday aiming to cover thousands of low-income, childless adults, but critics questioned a lack of details about the plan.
The new plan, the BadgerCare Plus Basic Plan, will provide limited health-care access to those on the waiting list for the more comprehensive BadgerCare Plus Core Plan.
The Core Plan, which was introduced last summer, halted its enrollment in October 2009 at 64,000 because of budget constraints. According to a statement from Doyle's office, the Basic Plan will be a temporary solution for those who have been turned away.
The Basic Plan will be funded entirely through an individually paid $130 monthly premium and will include some physician, hospital and prescription coverage.
Kelly Becker, spokesperson for state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, said though the plan is just a ""bare-bones option,"" it could help prevent cases of medical bankruptcy, one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the state.
Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, said in a statement that though it remains to be seen how many eligible individuals will be able to afford the premiums, providing them with another possibility is a ""very smart step.""
Others are not so sure. Jim Bender, spokesperson for state Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, said none of the plan's details are available, making it impossible to evaluate.
How long the plan will be available is unknown. Stephanie Smiley, spokesperson for Wisconsin's Department of Health Services, said as the economy improves, people will find jobs with employer-sponsored insurance and move off the Core Plan. Smiley said those open slots will be filled by those covered by the Basic Plan, eventually rendering it unnecessary.
""[The plan's duration] is dependant on how quickly we can move out of this recession,"" Smiley said.
It also depends on federal legislation.
""[The plan] is a good short-term step to take as we wait for desperately needed national reform to guarantee access to quality, affordable health care for everyone in Wisconsin,"" Kraig said.
Becker agreed. ""Until we can get some comprehensive reform done, we're trying to find everything we can to help,"" she said.
