Dangerous U.S. Supreme Court Decision Could Come Next Week.
STATEWIDE - Governor Scott Walker continues to deny any responsibility for protecting health care coverage for over 184,000 Wisconsinites at risk because of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could be decided next week. At a campaign event in Florida, Walker recently told Bloomberg News: “States didn't create this problem, the federal government did. And they should fix it."
Governor Walker bears a special responsibility for this potential disaster because he forced tens of thousands off BadgerCare and onto the federal marketplace. In addition, many Wisconsin consumers on the health insurance marketplace have pre-existing conditions and faced shocking discrimination from insurance companies before the passage of health reform. The potential disaster would hit Wisconsin especially hard because it is a relatively high cost state for health insurance, an issue Walker has also taken no serious action to address.
The case of King v. Burwell could strip health insurance subsidies in states like Wisconsin which did not set up their own Affordable Care Act marketplaces. This could increase premiums on average over 300%. If Wisconsin were to create its own health insurance marketplace, or partner with another state that has created one, there would be no threat to health coverage.
“It’s Scott Walker’s moral responsibility as Governor to protect the people from a foreseeable disaster, like tens of thousands being cut off from health coverage,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin.”By passing the buck to Congress, Walker is putting at risk the lives and fundamental freedoms of people in every corner of Wisconsin.”