On the day the rest of the country is trying to extend coverage before the deadline, tens of thousands are being forced off coverage across Wisconsin
Statewide – At media events Monday in Milwaukee and Madison, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, faith leaders, elected officials and citizens losing coverage called attention to Governor Walker’s immoral decision to force 77,000 citizens off of BadgerCare on April 1st.
The media events included State Senators Jon Erpenbach and Fred Risser, and State Representatives Sandy Pasch, Melissa Sargent, Mandela Barnes, Josh Zepnick, Dianne Hesselbein and Evan Goyke.
The Milwaukee event included Pastor Michelle Townsend de López, the Lead Pastor of Cross Lutheran Church.
“This historic day when the right to guaranteed health coverage is advancing all over the country is marred here in Wisconsin by Governor’s Walker’s action to force tens of thousands of our most hard pressed working families off affordable coverage,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
Recent research released by Citizen Action of Wisconsin shows that Wisconsinites who are being denied BadgerCare will have to pay $26 million per year in higher deductibles if they sign up for private plans.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, as it does not include other additional out of pocket costs.
“I have relied on Badger- Care since I was pregnant,” said Corrie Cronson of Madison, who along with her toddler son joined the media event.
Corrie is being forced off BadgerCare today.
“I had a cancer scare recently, even though I’m only 28.
BadgerCare was there for me, I don’t know how I can afford to be kicked off BadgerCare”
“Governor Walker promised us that these citizens he threw off BadgerCare would be covered, that he would guarantee it, yet too many are only learning about this decision today,” said State Senator Jon Erpenbach.
“If the Governor cannot promise that 100% of these citizens will be enrolled then Wisconsin must reconsider accepting the federal funds for Badger- Care.”
