I do purchase insurance...assuming is never a good idea.

You're right Retiredairforce...it's just that simple. If there were a cheap insurance company everyone would use it. There isn't one, that's why the government is getting involved. You should try to get some insurance on your own and see how much it would cost you. I guarantee you would be surprised.

Lessor of two evils? You can always change insurance companies...

The reason that health insurance costs so much in general and even more in Wisconsin is...drumroll...we are getting ripped off by pharmaceutical & insurance companies. The best thing we can do is to ally ourselves with government, who for once, can do something on behalf of the U.S. society as a whole (smacks of socialism-i know) instead of only providing welfare in the way of tax breaks and bail outs for the fat cats (which smacks of fascism.) Socialized health care is the lesser of the two evils.

I have no time to search on this, but I suspect it also has to do with mandated minimums required under wisconsin law not required by other states...one such example port wine stain removal.

janesvillean--The $60.00 for childless adults is not a monthly premium. It is a one-time only application fee. This may change with the new ideas being considered due to the 7000+ waiting list, but right now, it is not a monthly premium.

Because Medicaid only pays for about half the actual costs hospitals incur to treat people, the more medicaid members there are, the higher the utilization is, and the more losses hospitals take with every new medicaid patient. They can only make up those losses in one place: private insurance companies.

Thus, more Medicaid = higher private insurance premiums. That's why everyone should be scared to death of the 'public option'. The more business the public option gets, the more money hospitals lose (government programs like Medicaid and Medicare don't cover their costs) and the more hospitals have to make it up through private insurers, drastically increasing premiums on those not on the dole.

neonnate1002, the funding for BadgerCare is primarily the Federal Medicaid program money and BadgerCare premiums (e.g. $60/month for childless adults). It has nothing to do with your private insurance premiums, whether you or your employer pay them. The BadgerCare "Basic" expansion proposed for 2010 would be entirely self-funded by premium payers, because there is no other source of money.
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krsmith01, I share your concern about the drunk driving rate in Wisconsin, but it simply isn't enough to account for the differences. I doubt it has much measurable effect at all. Statistics show about 2 million alcohol-related traffic injuries annually, while hospital and doctor visits for all reasons are over 1 billion. That's 2/10ths of 1 percent.

I am not sure what i am going to say is true so dont complain if its wrong. but isnt wisconsin one of the only states that offers state insurance free to people. and if so who do you think is paying for it. us with higher premiums etc.

Here's a twisted theory (not even remotely based on fact). . . Maybe Wisconsin's a higher insurance "risk" state (which means higher premiums) because the majority of people being treated in hospitals for drunk driving accidents is higher!!! It doesn't matter if consumption is declining in Wisco. If thier consumption starts out higher than anyone elses a declination only means they are getting "closer" to where they should be.

Here are a the major reasons health insurance is higher in WI:

1. Benefits are better. Lower deductibles in WI mean people pay less (directly) for their healthcare and thus are less affected by price,

2. Wisconsinites demand everyone be in their networks, and

3. Wisconsin healthcare providers, especially hospitals, are organized as regional monopolies much more than in other states (e.g. UW, Aurora, Mercy).

4. Thus, Wisconsin's hospitals charge MUCH more for their services to health insurance companies than do hospitals elsewhere. Why? The hospitals know that the insurance companies basically have to have their regional monopolies in their network and thus have more leverage to increase their prices.

For as much complaining you hear about insurance companies, it's the providers that get 86% of every premium dollar. Hospital systems make, on average, about a 20-40% profit on their services when they're paid for by insurance companies, in large part because Medicare and Medicaid underpay and in WI, they are able to negotiate ridiculous prices.

The fact health insurance costs more here than other states is surprising to me. The average Wisconsinite does not seem less "healthy" than residents in other parts of this country and quality health care providers seem to be well represented throughout the state. Given those assumptions and a market based system, you would think the cost for health insurance in Wisconsin would be less, not more, than premiums in other states. Unfortunately Insurance Companies, not the market (consumers), dictate not only how much we pay for health care but also how that care is delivered. Until we eliminate the need to profit from providing health care and focus instead on promoting healthier lifestyles and standardizing costs we will continue paying too much.

If we get rid of the smokers, alcoholics, and overweight people all would be better and cheaper for all. Like that will happen anytime soon? At least our insurance thru work gives us non-smokers a big monthly discount on premiums if we do not smoke. Next, they will go after us healthy, yet overweight fat people, and charge us higher premiums. Time to lose my 75 lbs. in excessive body fat!

Saw a similar article yesterday at either madison.com or jsonline.com and it stated that though the health insurance is higher here, the PPO is lower.

Wisconsin's cost of living is 12% below the US average.
http://www.bestplaces.net/State/Wisconsi...
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Alcohol consumption is probably not a factor as it is a rising cost while alcohol consumption is gradually declining. According to the Journal-Sentinel article, Wisconsin's lower average deductibles and employee contributions to health plans are likely factors in the higher premium costs to employers.
http://www.jsonline.com/business/7037099...

Oh, wow. Big surprise there. Everything else is. Why not this too?

Seems like Wisconsin pays more for everything. But does Mercer . . . or anyone else . . . have an answer for why our health insurance rates are so much higher than other states? Is it at all tied in with the alcohol consumption? Just wondering.