MILWAUKEE — Start shopping for 2020 health care plans —that’s what state and local leaders want Wisconsinites to do. That's why dozens of people gathered at the Outreach Community Health Center on Milwaukee's north side Friday to kickoff the enrollment period.
“The first step in making sure folks across the state have affordable health care is to simply get them signed up,” Governor Tony Evers said.
Since 2015, enrollment numbers in Milwaukee have declined by more than 8,500 people —a number Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes described as trending in the wrong direction.
“It’s the responsibility of our state and our leaders to make sure that we do more. We can do more. We will do more. We will do better,” Lt. Governor Barnes said.
And in doing better state and local leaders have pledged to ensure there are systems in place to help people navigate the affordable health care system and choose plans that meet their budget and the health care needs of their family.
“The bottom line is that there are a lot of options for people who don’t have health insurance through their employer and we really want people to take a look at what’s available and get help,” Cathy Mahaffey, CEO of Common Ground, said.
Mahaffey, CEO of a healthcare cooperative, said he help available is often free —she also wants people to remember the open enrollment period for the federal exchange ends December 15th, but most state-run exchanges have longer enrollment periods.
