The Coalition for Cost Effective Health Care represents a broad cross-section of business and trade associations whose members are keenly interested in helping to ensure health care insurance is affordable and accessible.
The members of our Coalition support improving access to affordable and cost effective health care for Wisconsin employers, employees and employees’ families. As a result, the Coalition for Cost Effective Health Care opposes new government-mandated health insurance benefits.
The Coalition for Cost Effective Health Care believes that decisions regarding the benefit design of employee health care plans should be made in the marketplace, not in the Legislature. Employers should be free to purchase and design benefit packages that best meet the needs of their employees and should not be constrained by mandated benefits that individually may have legislative appeal.
State health insurance mandates drive up costs and undermine access to affordable health care insurance. Mandates only affect employers who cannot afford to self-fund their health plans, because self-funded plans are governed by federal law and are not subject to state regulation. While proponents of mandated health insurance benefits argue the increased costs associated with any one mandate are minimal, the Coalition members believe it is critical for legislators to understand a one percent increase in the cost of a health insurance plan translates into a $61 million increase in premium costs for Wisconsin employers and employees purchasing commercial health insurance.
Benefit mandates have a direct, negative effect on overall access to health care coverage. The 2009-10 Legislature has approved benefit mandates that will boost health insurance premiums by 4 percent, according to actuarial reports. As a result, health insurance premiums will increase by millions of dollars for thousandsof small business owners and their employees.
The Coalition for Cost Effective Health Care urges you to oppose health care benefit mandates.
MEMBERS:
* Council for Affordable Health Insurance
* Dairy Business Association
* Independent Business Association of Wisconsin
* Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
* Midwest Equipment Dealers Association
* Midwest Food Processors Association, Inc.
* National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – Wisconsin
* National Federation of Independent Business
* Wisconsin Association of Health Plans
* Wisconsin Association of Health Underwriters
* Wisconsin PPO Association
* Wisconsin Auto & Truck Dealers
* Wisconsin Automotive Aftermarket Association
* Wisconsin Automotive Parts Association
* Wisconsin Builders Association
* Wisconsin Grocers Association
* Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
* Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association
* Wisconsin Restaurant Association
