Here & Now

Fast Facts: Wisconsin vs Minnesota Health Insurance Premiums

Frederica Freyberg:

We continue to follow up on statements made on “Here & Now” by democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor. This week, multimedia reporter Marisa Wojcik circles back to remarks made by Tony Evers about healthcare.

Marisa Wojcik:

Wisconsin can’t go very long without being compared to Minnesota. Recently democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers told us Wisconsin is lagging behind its western neighbor in the area of healthcare.

Tony Evers:

All those things that Scott Walker didn’t do has caused Minnesota to move forward and have cheaper and better healthcare than we do in Wisconsin.

Marisa Wojcik:

What does cheaper and better mean? We followed up with Evers’ campaign and they referenced a 2017 study by the liberal group Citizen Action of Wisconsin. This particular study looked at 2018 premiums and found that on average, Wisconsinites pay 45% more in premiums. A recent report from the Urban Institute shows that from 2017 to 2018, Wisconsin premiums saw an overall increase of 43.5%. Minnesota saw a 15.1% decrease. Now nationally, many states saw premiums spike as federal reimbursements for cost share reductions were no longer available and overall, fewer people enrolled in the individual insurance marketplace. For Minnesota, it wasn’t until recently that premiums stabilized. The state’s 2016 premium rates were set to increase between 14 and 49%. Many in Minnesota attribute the new found balance in the state’s marketplace to the state’s re-insurance program, which uses state and federal money to subsidize insurance companies to cover exceptionally high claims. Wisconsin is hoping to enact a similar re-insurance plan. Having applied for a federal waiver back in April. For these and other fast facts, visit wpt.org.