Schimel Tells Walker Board Can Make Self-Insurance Available

Attorney General Brad Schimel says the state Group Insurance Board can offer self-insurance plans to municipal employers.

Gov. Scott Walker asked Schimel in April for a legal opinion on whether state law authorizes the board to set up a self-insurance plan open to municipal employers. Under such a plan, the state would pay medical claims directly.

Schimel issued an opinion Monday concluding that since the board can offer any self-insurance plan and municipalities can offer board plans a municipality can offer a self-insurance plan if the board offers it.

Walker proposed moving to a self-insurance model for state workers in his state budget but the Legislature’s finance committee rejected the idea.