Wisconsin Independent Businesses has worked for 15 years to pass legislation to make quality health insurance at more stable rates available to small businesses and farmers.  WIB was a leading legislative advocate for Co-op Care (according to figures published by the Ethics Board). Today, the program is becoming a reality.

Independent businesses will soon be able to purchase health insurance through a large purchasing pool. This marks the conclusion of the battle by Wisconsin Independent Businesses to allow small businesses and farmers to obtain health insurance as part of a large pool. 

Wisconsin has passed three separate pieces of legislation to make Co-op Care programs possible. Farmers Health Cooperative (http://www.farmershealthcooperative.com) makes purchasing pool access available to farmers and agri-business firms statewide. Healthy Lifestyles Cooperative (http://www.healthylifestylescoop.org/) is operating in Brown County and other cooperatives have applied for other regional territories. Wisconsin Healthcare Cooperative (WHC) (www.wihealthcarecoop.com) is based in Milwaukee and was known as Coop Care of Southeast Wisconsin prior to the order allowing WHC to operate statewide.  The latest additon to the cooperative idea is that of Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin  (www.cooperativehealthchoices.org/).  They will be offering plans in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn counties.

The healthcare debate continues both on the state and federal level.  WIB will continue to lobby for affordable healthcare for small businesses.  We will also continue to stress the idea that any reform must truly be "affordable" and not another cost on the small business owners.
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