While providing services to Green County citizens, I have become acutely aware of the problems individuals and families face when they lack health care insurance. In the past few months, I have seen a drastic increase in the number of families coming to apply for BadgerCare Plus because they couldn't afford the COBRA health insurance payment after being laid off. Currently there are nearly 4,800 (about 13.5 percent of our population) Green County residents receiving Medical Assistance, and of those, approximately 3,400 are covered by BadgerCare Plus.
While many in our county are covered by Medical Assistance, the 2008 County Health Snapshot, issued by the UW Population Health Institute, indicates nearly 13 percent of Green County residents are without heath care insurance. We rank 62nd out of the 72 Wisconsin counties, one of the worst in the State of Wisconsin, for the number of uninsured citizens. In July 2009, the State of Wisconsin again will expand BadgerCare Plus to cover single individuals and married couples without minor children. I remain hopeful this expansion of BadgerCare will cover many, if not all, of the individuals in our county that remain without health insurance.
Nationally, the week of March 22nd is recognized as "Cover the Uninsured" week. Monroe Clinic will be hosting the Green County Cover the Uninsured event, "Neighbor Helping Neighbor," a roundtable discussion. Speakers include Charity Eleson, executive director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, to provide an update on BadgerCare Plus and its expansion to cover more individuals; Wally Ozechowski, executive director, Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program, discussing free dental and health clinics in our area; RoAnn Warden, director, Green County Health Department, will be discussing community resources and local data; and many of our elected officials will be present to take your questions. This event will take place at 2 p.m. today, Friday, March 27, at Monroe Clinic's Founders Hall.
I hope to see you at this event.
- Jeannie Blumer is W-2/economic support supervisor for Green County Human Services, and a member of the Green County Cover the Uninsured Coalition .
While many in our county are covered by Medical Assistance, the 2008 County Health Snapshot, issued by the UW Population Health Institute, indicates nearly 13 percent of Green County residents are without heath care insurance. We rank 62nd out of the 72 Wisconsin counties, one of the worst in the State of Wisconsin, for the number of uninsured citizens. In July 2009, the State of Wisconsin again will expand BadgerCare Plus to cover single individuals and married couples without minor children. I remain hopeful this expansion of BadgerCare will cover many, if not all, of the individuals in our county that remain without health insurance.
Nationally, the week of March 22nd is recognized as "Cover the Uninsured" week. Monroe Clinic will be hosting the Green County Cover the Uninsured event, "Neighbor Helping Neighbor," a roundtable discussion. Speakers include Charity Eleson, executive director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, to provide an update on BadgerCare Plus and its expansion to cover more individuals; Wally Ozechowski, executive director, Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program, discussing free dental and health clinics in our area; RoAnn Warden, director, Green County Health Department, will be discussing community resources and local data; and many of our elected officials will be present to take your questions. This event will take place at 2 p.m. today, Friday, March 27, at Monroe Clinic's Founders Hall.
I hope to see you at this event.
- Jeannie Blumer is W-2/economic support supervisor for Green County Human Services, and a member of the Green County Cover the Uninsured Coalition .
