A new report suggests the quality and price of health care coverage varies greatly across Wisconsin.
The study from Citizen Action of Wisconsin looked largely at the cost of health insurance in the Badger State. Executive Director Robert Kraig says the report shows a 19-percent gap in prices between the major metro areas.
Wausau, Stevens Point, Eau Claire, and La Crosse are among the cities with the highest cost of care. Madison remains the lowest cost metro area.
Kraig says many areas also saw a high rate of inflation over the last year, with a statewide average rate of nine-percent. Some areas saw costs increase by as much as 11-percent, while others only saw a three-percent hike.
The study also ranked the quality of care in metro areas and compared that to the primary types of providers in those regions. Kraig says areas with a heavy concentration of for-profit insurance companies received the lowest ratings, while areas with regional provider-driven plans had a much higher level of quality.
Kraig says the findings point to the need for health care reform on the national and state levels.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:07)