Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
State Budget Watch: A stunning insurance mandate
The more we learn about Governor Doyle’s proposed 2009-11 state budget, the worse it gets.
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has released its analysis, or what I call the English version of the governor’s budget. At the top of page 417, I found this item:
“HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE -- COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENTS
Governor: Require every health insurance policy, and every self-insured health plan of the state or county, city, town, village, or school district that provides coverage for a person as a dependent of an insured to provide dependent coverage for a child of an insured unless: (a) the child is 27 years of age or older; (b) the child is married; (c) the child has other health care coverage; (d) the child is employed full time and his or her employer offers health care coverage to its employees; or (e) coverage of the insured through whom the child has dependent coverage under the policy or plan is discontinued or not renewed.”
The governor is proposing a stunning mandate, requiring that all insurance policies cover dependents in some cases until they reach the age of 27. This mind-boggling provision will dramatically increase insurance costs and exacerbate the entitlement mentality that is causing major budget problems.
It is yet another budget item the governor failed to mention publicly in his budget address to a joint session of the state Legislature.
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