Via WI Examiner:

Democratic legislators, together with members of Citizen Action and the Main Street Alliance introduced the BadgerCare Public Option Act during a virtual press conference Monday. 

The bill, an ambitious effort to expand access to health care for Wisconsinites, was introduced by Reps. Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay) and Supreme Moore Omokunde (D-Milwaukee) with Sens. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) and LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee). 

The legislation creates a new basic health plan for single people whose incomes fall between 133-200% of the federal poverty line. For people who make more than 200% of poverty, it establishes a state-based online health insurance marketplace for Wisconsinites so they can purchase coverage through BadgerCare instead of healthcare.gov. Out-of-pocket premiums would be based on income on a sliding scale, with lower deductibles and copays than the private insurance market, Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig told the Examiner. “And, importantly, there would be no claim denials,” Kraig said. “So you don’t get a separate bill for your anesthesiologist after your colonoscopy.”

The bill also allows small business owners with 50 or fewer employees to purchase coverage for their employees at affordable rates, according to its sponsors. And it permits lawfully present immigrants who are ineligible for Medicaid as well as Affordable Care Act coverage because they are not U.S. citizens, to get coverage — as other states, including Illinois, have done.