Starting now, state workers, families to pay more for medical care

Wisconsin State Journal ^ | 1-1-12 | Steven Verburg

[afraidfortherepublic]

State workers and their families will pay more for medical care starting Jan. 1 under the latest changes to emerge from a state law that wiped out most public employee union rights.

The changes in the state health plan require 183,000 participants to pay 10 percent of their bills for doctor visits, tests, surgeries and hospitalizations up to an annual maximum of $500 for single people and $1,000 for families.

Health plan administrators have explained the new system previously, but they expect to get a lot more questions when workers begin reaching into their pockets.

"I think the reality will hit when the bill comes in the mail," said Lisa Ellinger, insurance services administrator for the state Department of Employee Trust Funds.

Part of budget repair bill

The changes are part of a 5 percent reduction in the state health insurance system required under Act 10, the so-called budget repair bill that set off weeks of mass demonstrations at the Capitol before it was passed by the Republican majority in the Legislature and signed by Gov. Scott Walker.

The law stripped most public sector workers of collective bargaining rights, and since August

[cherry]

I paid over $7000 last year to cover my husband who’s only medication is OTC prilosec...what the hell are these people complaining about...

[WOBBLY BOB]

BALDWIN - A citizens’ group in western Wisconsin is upset that a school district used a budget surplus to reward its employees instead of giving the money back to taxpayers.
The Baldwin-Woodville School District in Saint Croix County gave $500-dollars to each of its 200 full-and-part-time employees just before Christmas. Leanne Rice of the Citizens for Responsible Government tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that taxpayers won’t get a bonus – and her group is so upset, it’s looking into some kind of recall effort.
http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/41915/

the empire may strike back...