At a Capitol news conference on Wednesday, lawmakers, health care advocates and Wisconsinites with preexisting medical conditions unveiled a proposed bill of rights for Wisconsin health insurance consumers.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) and Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) would make permanent in Wisconsin law the key consumer rights and protections included in the national Affordable Care Act, including prohibition of discrimination against people with preexisting conditions. The bill has already been endorsed by 24 Wisconsin advocacy organizations.
"The Federal Government estimates that nearly 1 million Wisconsinites under the age of 65 have preexisting medical conditions that would cause them to be denied coverage if they tried to buy coverage on their own," said Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. "This bill permanently outlaws health insurance industry discrimination against Wisconsinites with preexisting conditions, and other unethical business practices that have sparked outrage across the state."
The introduction of the bill kicks off the debate that will take place this fall in the State Legislature over Wisconsin's implementation of national health care reform.
The bill would prohibit discrimination against children and adults with preexisting medical conditions and would forbid cancellation of insurance policies after a patient becomes ill.
Organizations supporting the initiative include Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, AARP, ABC for Health, Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition, Reproductive Justice Collaborative, Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health, Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, Wisconsin League of Young Voters, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, Know Your Care, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, NARL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, SEIU Wisconsin State Council, Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, Jewish Family Services Milwaukee, Mental Health Center of Dane County, Family Voices of Wisconsin, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations, and League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network.
Lawmakers propose protections against health insurance discrimination
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