Today is the first opportunity for those without insurance and those who buy their own coverage to shop on a new marketplace called an exchange.
The health exchanges are supposed to be consumer friendly and spur competition among insurance companies. In Wisconsin, there are 13 private insurance carriers offering a variety of plans that can be compared by going to the state health services website or the federal government site.
Gov. Scott Walker filed suit early in his term to stop the Affordable Care Act, which created the exchanges. However, the state put $55 million in the budget to help uninsured people get health coverage through the exchange.
Deputy Health Services Secretary Kevin Moore says this money will go local social services agencies.
“We weren't prescriptive in how that money went out,” says Moore. “Some counties are hiring new staff; other counties are going to rely more on overtime. That was their prerogative.”
Dane County used the money on four certified application counselors at the county Job Center to help people understand their health insurance options.
Some applicants will be eligible for federal subsidies to help pay premiums.
