Business
Health insurance co-op forms in Wis.
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 22, 2007
Wisconsin has its first health insurance purchasing cooperative, formed under new laws allowing small- and mid-size businesses to pool their health plans in hopes of bringing down premium rates.
Co-op Care of Southeastern Wisconsin said it started selling health plans in January and hopes to sign up 7,500 enrollees this year.
The co-op, which operates in the Milwaukee area, was started by a group of financial companies and sells plans underwritten by American Medical and Life Insurance of Hicksville, N.Y. Local businesses can buy plans offered by the co-op. The stated goal is to get enough enrollees that employees and employers pay rates on par with the lower rates large businesses get for their volume.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/01/22/bibf0122.htm.