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Robert Kraig: County should vote for health care reform

Robert Kraig  —  11/03/2008 5:41 am

Given the startling rate of health care inflation, it is no wonder that health care reform has catapulted to the top of the agenda in this year's elections. Nationally, health insurance premiums have increased a breathtaking 119 percent this decade.

Even more alarming, Wisconsin health insurance costs have risen even faster. Citizen Action of Wisconsin's annual Wisconsin Health Insurance Cost Ranking report released last week found that Wisconsin health insurance costs have risen 149 percent since 2000, 30 percent above the national average. Although Dane County health insurance costs are the lowest in Wisconsin, they have more than doubled, increasing 113 percent this decade.

Sensing the growing public fury over legislative inaction on the deepening crisis, state legislative candidates are falling all over themselves proclaiming their support for health care reform. Given the nature of campaign rhetoric, it can be hard to tell which candidates are truly committed to leading on reform that will make a tangible difference to area residents.

Fortunately, Dane County voters have another way to send a clear message to the politicians. The health care referendum on the ballot reads: "Shall the next state Legislature enact health care reform legislation by Dec. 31, 2009, that guarantees every Wisconsin resident affordable health care coverage with benefits that are substantially similar to those provided to state legislators?"

This statement gives voters the opportunity to send a powerful message to Madison. Despite its apparent simplicity, the referendum contains clear instructions to the Legislature. First, it says that the Legislature must "guarantee" affordable health care, not simply offer another empty promise. Second, it says that this coverage should be as good as what state legislators receive, which is only fair given that all of us pay for their coverage. Third, the referendum gives the Legislature a deadline to act. This is extremely important. The big run-up in health insurance costs began a decade ago, and yet the Legislature has failed to act year after year. The Legislature cannot continue to be AWOL on a crisis of this magnitude.

It is appropriate that the referendum does not tell the Legislature which heath care reform plan to adopt. This is far too complicated for a ballot question, and should appropriately be left to the legislative process. The role of the public in this case is not to become health policy experts, but to set a goal for the Legislature to achieve. The referendum does this by laying down clear and simple standards.

Dane County voters will not be alone in instructing the Legislature to do its job and tackle the health care crisis. Over 32,000 Wisconsin voters in 22 communities all across the state signed petitions to place health care advisory referendums on the ballot, giving over 750,000 voters the opportunity to vote for health care reform Nov. 4. A "Yes" vote will send a powerful message to the Legislature that it is time to get down to the business of guaranteeing access to quality affordable health care for everyone in Wisconsin.

Robert Kraig is the program direction for Citizen Action of Wisconsin, www.citizenactionwi.org.

Robert Kraig  —  11/03/2008 5:41 am