LRB-2237/1
RAC:wlj:jf
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
March 10, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Towns, Vruwink, Ainsworth,
Pettis, Gronemus, M. Williams, Hubler, Musser, Kestell, Suder, Owens, Van
Roy, Davis, Hines, Hahn, Freese, Pope-Roberts, Bies, Berceau, Gunderson,
Kreibich, Wood, Seidel, Lamb, Petrowski, Nerison, Van Akkeren, Ott,
Townsend, Albers
and Ballweg, cosponsored by Senators Leibham, Decker,
A. Lasee, Kapanke, Wirch, Breske, Hansen, Miller, Brown, Taylor, Zien
and
Lassa. Referred to Committee on Insurance.
AB199,1,4 1An Act to amend 40.51 (1); and to create 20.515 (1) (g) and 40.515 of the
2statutes; relating to: the purchase of health care coverage through the Group
3Insurance Board by individuals who are engaged in the business of farming,
4granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the Group Insurance Board, attached to the Department of
Employee Trust Funds (DETF), is required to contract on behalf of the state for the
purpose of providing health care coverage to state employees. Many other public
sector employers may also participate in programs offered by the Group Insurance
Board to provide health care coverage for their employees.
This bill provides that, beginning on January 1, 2006, any individual in this
state who is a resident of this state and who is engaged in the business of farming,
including any individual who is employed by a farm business, may elect to receive
coverage under any health care coverage plan offered to state employees by paying
to DETF the full cost of the required premiums. The bill also specifies several
conditions that any individual seeking health care coverage under the state plan
must meet and authorizes DETF to establish by rule preexisting condition exclusions
for individuals who elect to receive coverage under the state plan.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB199, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.515 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB199,2,52 20.515 (1) (g) Benefit and coverage payments; private sector health care
3coverage.
All moneys received from individuals under s. 40.515 who elect to be
4included in a health care coverage plan under s. 40.51 (6), for the payment of benefits
5and the cost of administering benefits for the individuals.
AB199, s. 2 6Section 2. 40.51 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB199,2,107 40.51 (1) The procedures and provisions pertaining to enrollment, premium
8transmitted, and coverage of eligible employees and individuals eligible for health
9care coverage under s. 40.515
for health care benefits shall be established by contract
10or rule except as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter.
AB199, s. 3 11Section 3. 40.515 of the statutes is created to read:
AB199,2,16 1240.515 Health care coverage for individuals who are engaged in the
13business of farming. (1)
In this section, "preexisting condition" means a condition,
14whether physical or mental, regardless of the cause of the condition, for which
15medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received within
16the 6-month period immediately preceding the individual's election under sub. (2).
AB199,2,20 17(2) Beginning on January 1, 2006, any individual in this state, who is not
18otherwise eligible for health care coverage under this subchapter, may elect coverage
19under any health care coverage plan offered under s. 40.51 (6) subject to all of the
20following conditions:
AB199,3,2
1(a) The individual is a resident of this state and engages in the business of
2farming, including specifically any individual who is employed by a farm business.
AB199,3,53 (b) The individual provides proof to the department that the individual has
4been covered by a health insurance plan or policy for any period of time during the
5previous 6 months before electing coverage under this section.
AB199,3,76 (c) The individual pays to the department the full cost of the required
7premiums.
AB199,3,108 (d) If the individual has terminated health care coverage under this section, the
9individual may not again receive any health care coverage under this section for a
10period of 12 months from the date of termination.
AB199,3,14 11(3) The department shall establish by rule preexisting condition exclusions for
12individuals who elect to receive health care coverage under sub. (2), but any such
13preexisting condition exclusion may not exceed the maximum period permitted
14under s. 632.746.
AB199,3,1515 (End)
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