CWAG, AARP Wisconsin & Citizen Action of Wisconsin: Health Insurance Consumers Bill of Rights to be unveiled at State Capitol Wednesday

Media Advisory

Contact: Robert Kraig (414) 322-5324

Madison: On Wednesday, lawmakers, health care advocates, and Wisconsinites with preexisting medical conditions will unveil a bill of rights for Wisconsinhealth insurance consumers. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Jon Erpenbach and Representative Jon Richards, makes key consumer rights and protections of the Affordable Care Act a permanent part of Wisconsin law. The introduction of this important bill kicks-off the crucial debate that will take place this fall in the State Legislature over Wisconsin’s implementation of national health care reform.

The Wisconsin Health Insurance Consumers Bill of Rights permanently outlaws a series of discriminatory health insurance industry practices which have sparked outrage across Wisconsin:

* Discrimination Against Children and Adults with Preexisting Medical Conditions

* Cancellation of Insurance Policies After a Patient Gets Sick

* Lifetime Limits and Annual Limits on Coverage

* Discriminatory health insurance rates based on health status and gender

The bill requires other key protections such as requiring health insurers to offer coverage to all applicants, preventative care coverage without co-pays and deductibles, guaranteed choice of primary care providers, full emergency care coverage in and out of network, limits on rate surcharges based on age, and readable insurance policies that are clear to the average person.

What: Introduction of Wisconsin Health Insurance Consumers Bill of Rights

When: Wednesday September 7, 2:00 PM

Where: Assembly Parlor, State Capitol

Who: Lawmakers, health care advocates, Wisconsin health care consumers with preexisting conditions.

Co-Sponsoring organizations include CWAG, AARP Wisconsin & Citizen Action of Wisconsin.