The Census Bureau estimates that just over 5.7-million people call the state of Wisconsin “home.” Perhaps to the surprise of some, when it comes to the overall health rankings, Wisconsin is one of the healthier states in the nation. Wisconsin went down four spots, but is still ranked 16th out of the 50 states in the 2012 “America’s Health Rankings.” A number of factors determine health insurance Wisconsin premiums. The state ranks very well in a few categories, but struggles in a few others. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks associated with living in Wisconsin.
Note: Stats and figures are provided by “America’s Health Rankings” from the United Health Foundation.
Health Insurance Wisconsin: Pros
The health insurance pros of Wisconsin include:
• No state in the nation has a better high school graduation rate than Wisconsin.
• The “Badger State” is sixth in the country when it comes to the number of people who are insured.
• Wisconsin is ranked in the top 20 in sedentary lifestyle, the lack of infectious diseases, violent crime, immunization coverage, the number of primary care physicians available, preventable hospitalizations, and premature deaths.
Health Insurance Wisconsin: Cons
The health insurance cons of Wisconsin include:
• Wisconsin is the worst state in the nation when it comes to binge drinking. A whopping 24% of the population drinks excessively.
• Wisconsin is also the worst in the nation when it comes to public health funding.
• The state is 31st in air pollution, but is no worse than 27th in any other of the major categories.
Health Insurance Wisconsin: Resources
There are a number of health insurance Wisconsin resources available for those in need, including:
• BadgerCare Plus
• Legislative Council on health care reform
• ForwardHealth: Wisconsin Medicaid
• Wisconsin Hospital Association
• Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin mental health resource guide
• The National Coalition on Health Care’s information for Wisconsin