takomabibelot (CC BY 2.0)

Series: Health Insurance And The ACA

The health system in the U.S. is built upon a complex and interlocking series of relationships between medical providers, insurers, the federal and state governments, employers and the people who require preventive care and treatment throughout their lives. The enactment of the Affordable Care Act, one goal of which was securing coverage for more Americans, has profoundly transformed this system since its implementation, including in Wisconsin. At the same time, the political contentiousness of the law has added complexity and uncertainty to the health care decisions Americans make, and the future of the health care system continues to be an open question.
 
When a federal policy change affects America's senior citizens, it's safe to say that rural Wisconsinites will feel it keenly.
Amid several frustrated attempts to get Congress repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Trump administration is taking multiple steps to simply inhibit the law's annual implementation.
In 2016, there were an estimated 255,000 more Wisconsin residents with health insurance compared to in 2013.
Many people are confused about the status of the Affordable Care Act: Did it get repealed? Are people still required to have health insurance? What about Medicaid and BadgerCare? Are recipients required to work and to submit to drug testing? Who do the various policy changes affect?
Despite a lot of noise, there was little movement on health insurance policy across the United States in 2017. As a result, there was likewise little movement in terms of insurance coverage rates, including in Wisconsin.
In January, the Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill that addresses pre-existing conditions, but the scope of this proposal does not overlap completely with what is defined by the ACA.
Trapped under antiquated policies and infrastructure in communities with dwindling populations, some rural hospitals cannot afford to adapt to a rapidly evolving health care system.