Wisconsin Assembly Set to Pass Self-Insurance Oversight Bill

The Legislature’s budget-writing committee would have to approve any contract moving Wisconsin public workers into a self-insurance model under a bill up for approval in the state Assembly.

The measure being debated on Nov. 16 comes as Gov. Scott Walker’s administration is looking toward adopting a self-insurance model, a change that could reshape health insurance for about 240,000 public employees, their families and retirees.

Under self-insurance, the state would pay benefits directly instead of buying insurance from 18 HMOs.

The state’s Group Insurance Board, which sets health insurance policy, was to receive a report today on making the change.

Walker had promised to veto an earlier version of the bill that would have given the Joint Finance Committee the power to sign off on any changes to the insurance system.