The future of BadgerCare

Originally posted at Dane101.com:

The Wisconsin State Journal last week discussed in no uncertain terms the danger that the state's Medicaid program, BadgerCare, is in. Newly-elected Republican lawmakers -- including Gov.-elect Scott Walker -- have expressed strong aversions to the program, which provides financial medical assistance to one-in-five Wisconsinites who can't afford coverage on their own. Nine percent of the state's budget is dedicated towards fulfilling the promise of providing everyone who needs it decent health care.

The program is touted as one of the better examples of Medicaid programs being dispensed in the country, providing every child in the state access to health care regardless of income levels as well as helping low-income families get the adequate medical assistance they need.

The State Journal highlights one man's personal story as a model of how well the program has helped -- and what could happen if the program is gutted. Monona businessman Jim Phillips is a prime example of those who might get burned by the proposed cuts to the program. As a self-employed barber, Phillips is unable to pay out-of-pocket for his own insurance. He signed up for the BadgerCare Plus Core program, which allows low-income single people the opportunity to receive coverage. Phillips was able to get the care he needed.

As it turns out, Phillips really DID need insurance -- a set of stomach problems he has since had would have cost him tens of thousands of dollars to pay for on his own, undoubtedly propelling him into financial ruin, not to mention destroying his business, were it not for his BadgerCare.

Phillips's story isn't an anomaly. Many others have benefited from the BadgerCare program. Hundreds of thousands of families across the state utilize its benefits daily during this tumultuous economic period in our nation's history.

The Republican Party in Wisconsin has a right to wonder what cuts can be made wherever they can make them in the state budget. But any cuts that they do make shouldn't be at the expense of those who are truly in need of a low-cost, comprehensive option for medical health care coverage. Time-limits for the program -- an idea once proposed by Walker himself -- and other eligibility restrictions are the wrong path to take, will force thousands of families to consider too many variables when it comes to their health coverage.

Our state is a leader in health care, a focal point for the nation as far as granting benefits goes, and the epicenter for many medical breakthroughs celebrated the world over, such as stem cell research. Turning our backs on our fellow Wisconsinites during this economic recession, at a time when many cannot afford to insure themselves, sends the wrong signals, tells the rest of the country (and the world) that we no longer care for those who have been hit by hard times.

Were are the "family values" in telling a family that their coverage is going to be depleted due to their reaching their limit in coverage? What values are we expressing when we tell people like Jim Phillips, "to hell with you," that he doesn't deserve to be insured, thus denying him the ability to pursue his economic goals?

And this is why this election year was so important: the GOP's priorities are messed up, don't support the people of this state. Instead of trying to expand coverage to families in need of health care, or to find a way to give unemployed workers still seeking work some semblance of relief, their goals are to create tax breaks for the top one percent, or to give enormous tax cuts to corporate interests in the state. The "family values" party hardly supports families, nor do they value them much.

So what can you do? Call your representative. Call your friends and family members outside of Madison, and tell them to pressure their conservative representatives. Chances are you know someone who is a part of this program. If you care about their health and well-being at all, you must call your state rep and tell them: don't touch BadgerCare.