Wisconsin Capitol (WRN photo)
The state’s Group Insurance Board will wait until at least January to decide whether about 250,000 public employees should get their health insurance directly from the state government.
The Board reviewed several options Tuesday to restructure health benefits for state and local workers and their families. The panel has asked a consultant and the state Employee Trust Funds Department for more information.
If the state goes to a long considered self-insurance model, consultants say it would save money and give the state more control over what it provides — but it would also mean a big loss of business for 17 HMOs where the public workers now get their coverage.
GOP legislative finance chairs Alberta Darling and John Nygren say they want to work with the panel on the possible changes. In a letter to the panel, they also raised concerns that “regionalization” could also create “artificial boundaries” in areas where the state already has functioning marketplaces.