Minnesota vs Wisconsin (vs BadgerCare) 2019
New federal data shows allowing Wisconsinites to buy-into Badgercare as a “Public Option” would slash premiums and deductibles. Data also shows gap with Minnesota is widening. For previous year data, click here or here
On a media call on Oct 31st, Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals released a new analysis which has major implications for the high profile health care debate in the 2018 election. We were joined on the audio news conference by State Senator LaTonya Johnson and State Rep. Chris Taylor. Listen to the entire audio here.
The analysis, based on just released federal data crunched by Citizen Action, shows that Governor Walker’s refusal to build on the Affordable Care Act is forcing Wisconsinites to pay thousands more for health insurance on the individual market. In some high cost regions of the state, Wisconsin families are paying over $24,000 per year more per year!
The analysis focused on two questions using 2019 premium and deductible data just released by the federal government:
1. How much would Wisconsinites who buy health insurance on their own save if BadgerCare was made a public option? Governor Walker and the majority in the Legislature have refused to take action on the popular proposal introduced by legislative Democrats. Democratic challenger Tony Evers supports the BadgerCare public option proposal.
2. How much more will Wisconsinites who buy insurance on their own pay than their counterparts in Minnesota? Minnesota, unlike Wisconsin, has consistently built upon the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
For both questions, the analysis used as its baseline consumers who make too much to qualify for federal tax credits, and therefore pay their entire health insurance premium.
Key Findings for 2019 (for consumers who pay the full premium)
- Wisconsinites who buy insurance on their own would pay premiums and deductibles on average 32.5% less if a BadgerCare Public Option were available. This means they would pay on average $3,685 less for the same level of coverage.
- Wisconsinites on the individual insurance market will face premiums and deductibles 50% higher on average than their counterparts in Minnesota. This means paying a state average of $3,781 more per year for the same level of coverage. For some Wisconsin border regions, the disparity is even greater.
- Enacting a BadgerCare Public Option would have an even more dramatic impact for a family of four, saving as much as over $24,000 in premiums and deductibles over private health insurance.
The BadgerCare Public Option Bill (Assembly Bill 449/Senate Bill 363), authored by State Rep. Eric Genrich (D-Green Bay) and State Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee), would give Wisconsinites the option of purchasing BadgerCare on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. This option would be especially attractive to people who buy coverage on their own without a tax credit, and to small businesses.
Figure 1: BadgerCare Public Option Cost, 2019 figures
| Annual, Adults* | Annual, Child* | |
| Statewide estimate | $7,632 | $2,388 |
* – Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimate of a BadgerCare Public Option buy-in. Public Option figures above does not have any deductible, unlike private insurance.
Figure 2: Comparison of Major Metros, Wisconsin vs Minnesota, 2nd lowest cost Silver plan, 40 year old individual, 12 months premiums and deductibles
| Area | Benchmark Silver Plan, Percent Difference* | Benchmark Silver Plan, Dollar Difference* |
| Statewide, Wisconsin vs Minnesota** | 50% higher in Wisconsin, premiums & deductibles | +3,781 more per year in Wisconsin, on average ($11,317 vs $7,536) |
| La Crosse, WI vs La Crescent, MN (border cities) | 27% higher in La Crosse | +$2,618 more per year in La Crosse ($12,215 vs $9,596) |
| Superior, WI vs Duluth, MN (border cities) | 69.8% higher in Superior | +$4,929 more per year in Superior ($11,988 vs $7,058) |
| Hudson, WI vs Lakeland, MN (border cities) | 47% higher in Hudson | +$3,110 more per year in Hudson ($9,715 vs $6,604) |
| Milwaukee, WI vs Minneapolis, MN (major metros) | 64% higher in Milwaukee | +$4,733 more per year in Milwaukee ($12,100 vs $7,367) |
| Madison, WI vs St Paul, MN (State Capitals) | 31% more in Madison | +$2,297 more per year in Madison ($9,597 vs $7,300) |
* – comparison of 2nd lowest cost Silver health plan, premiums and deductibles, for 40 year old vs Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimate of a BadgerCare Public Option buy-in. Private rates gathered from Healthcare.gov
** – Weighted average based on county population in each state, looking at 12 months premiums & annual deductible for 40 year old. MN rates gathered from MNSure.org
Figure 3: The Cost of Private Insurance for a Family of Four, premiums and deductibles, over the BadgerCare Public Option; 2019 rates, 2nd lowest cost silver, by Metro.
| Metro Area | Cost of Private Plan Over BadgerCare Public Option Per Year, Family of Four* | Annual Cost of Private Coverage vs Public Option, Family of Four* |
| Eau Claire | 3.4x higher per year than BadgerCare Public Option | +$24,204 in annual premiums & deductibles |
| La Crosse / Milwaukee / Superior | 3.3x higher | +$23,049 |
| Rhinelander / Kenosha / Racine / Wausau | 3.2x higher | +$22,328 |
| Green Bay | 3.1x higher | +$21,371 |
| Appleton / Sheboygan | 3x higher | +$19,948 |
| Hudson | 2.7x higher | +$17,451 |
| Fond Du Lac | 2.6x higher | +$15,864 |
| Madison | 2.5x higher | +$14,680 |
| Janesville | 2.3x higher | +$13,089 |
* – Based on annual premiums and deductibles for a Family of Four by county, with two 40-year old adults and two 10-year old children, gathered from Healthcare.gov. BadgerCare Public Option costs gathered from 2018 Legislative Fiscal Bureau Memo
Figure 4: Current 2019 Premiums & Deductibles, 2nd lowest cost silver for 40 year old, by Metro, and Extra Annual Cost Over BadgerCare Public Option of Private Insurance
| County | 2019 Premiums & Deductibles, private plans on Healthcare.gov* | BadgerCare Public Option, percent vs private coverage, Annual** | Dollar amount over BadgerCare Public Option for Private Insurance, Annual |
| Statewide*** | $11,317 per year, premiums & deductibles | 32.5% less per person annually if enrolled in the Public Option | $3,685 saved per year if enrolled in Public Option |
| Brown | $11,821.6 per year | 35.4% less | $4,189.6 saved |
| Buffalo | $13,820 | 44.8% less | $6,188 saved |
| Burnett | $11,988 | 36.3% less | $4,356 saved |
| Calumet | $10,871 | 29.8% less | $3,239 saved |
| Chippewa | $12,502 | 39.0% less | $4,870 saved |
| Clark | $12,559 | 39.2% less | $4,927 saved |
| Columbia | $10,223 | 25.3% less | $2,591 saved |
| Crawford | $9,761 | 21.8% less | $2,129 saved |
| Dane | $9,598 | 20.5% less | $1,966 saved |
| Dodge | $10,772 | 29.2% less | $3,140 saved |
| Door | $11,003 | 30.6% less | $3,371 saved |
| Douglas | $11,988 | 36.3% less | $4,356 saved |
| Dunn | $12,502 | 39.0% less | $4,870 saved |
| Eau Claire | $12,502 | 39.0% less | $4,870 saved |
| Florence | $11,915 | 35.9% less | $4,283 saved |
| Fond Du Lac | $9,406 | 18.9% less | $1,774 saved |
| Forest | $11,915 | 35.9% less | $4,283 saved |
| Grant | $9,761 | 21.8% less | $2,129 saved |
| Green | $10,077 | 24.3% less | $2,445 saved |
| Green Lake | $9,777 | 21.9% less | $2,145 saved |
| Iowa | $9,761 | 21.8% less | $2,129 saved |
| Iron | $11,915 | 35.9% less | $4,283 saved |
| Jackson | $12,023 | 36.5% less | $4,391 saved |
| Jefferson | $10,223 | 25.3% less | $2,591 saved |
| Juneau | $9,777 | 21.9% less | $2,145 saved |
| Kenosha | $12,088 | 36.9% less | $4,456 saved |
| Kewaunee | $11,003 | 30.6% less | $3,371 saved |
| La Crosse | $12,215 | 37.5% less | $4,583 saved |
| Lafayette | $9,761 | 21.8% less | $2,129 saved |
| Langlade | $11,915 | 35.9% less | $4,283 saved |
| Lincoln | $11,842 | 35.5% less | $4,210 saved |
| Manitowoc | $11,003 | 30.6% less | $3,371 saved |
| Marathon | $11,842 | 35.5% less | $4,210 saved |
| Marinette | $11,003 | 30.6% less | $3,371 saved |
| Marquette | $9,777 | 21.9% less | $2,145 saved |
| Menominee | $11,988 | 36.3% less | $4,356 saved |
| Milwaukee | $12,101 | 36.9% less | $4,469 saved |
| Monroe | $12,215 | 37.5% less | $4,583 saved |
| Oconto | $11,003 | 30.6% less | $3,371 saved |
| Oneida | $11,915 | 35.9% less | $4,283 saved |
| Outagamie | $10,871 | 29.8% less | $3,239 saved |
| Ozaukee | $12,097 | 36.9% less | $4,465 saved |
| Pepin | $12,502 | 39.0% less | $4,870 saved |
| Pierce | $9,716 | 21.4% less | $2,084 saved |
| Polk | $9,965 | 23.4% less | $2,333 saved |
| Portage | $11,842 | 35.5% less | $4,210 saved |
| Price | $12,559 | 39.2% less | $4,927 saved |
| Racine | $12,088 | 36.9% less | $4,456 saved |
| Richland | $9,777 | 21.9% less | $2,145 saved |
| Rock | $8,913 | 14.4% less | $1,281 saved |
| Rusk | $12,502 | 39.0% less | $4,870 saved |
| Saint Croix | $9,716 | 21.4% less | $2,084 saved |
| Sauk | $9,663 | 21.0% less | $2,031 saved |
| Sawyer | $11,988 | 36.3% less | $4,356 saved |
| Shawano | $13,678 | 44.2% less | $6,046 saved |
| Sheboygan | $10,871 | 29.8% less | $3,239 saved |
| Taylor | $12,559 | 39.2% less | $4,927 saved |
| Trempealeau | $13,821 | 44.8% less | $6,189 saved |
| Vernon | $9,761 | 21.8% less | $2,129 saved |
| Vilas | $11,915 | 35.9% less | $4,283 saved |
| Walworth | $8,913 | 14.4% less | $1,281 saved |
| Washburn | $11,988 | 36.3% less | $4,356 saved |
| Washington | $12,097 | 36.9% less | $4,465 saved |
| Waukesha | $12,097 | 36.9% less | $4,465 saved |
| Waupaca | $10,871 | 29.8% less | $3,239 saved |
| Waushara | $10,871 | 29.8% less | $3,239 saved |
| Winnebago | $10,871 | 29.8% less | $3,239 saved |
| Wood | $11,842 | 35.5% less | $4,210 saved |
* – 2nd Lowest silver plan for a 40 year old, 12 months of premiums and deductible, Healthcare.gov
** – based on annual BadgerCare Public Option estimate for premiums & deductibles, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Oct 2018
*** – weighted average determined by county population estimates
