League dues are:

Single: $60.00

Family:  $90.00

http://www.lwv.org/

Mary Nelson and Peter Nelson LWV of the La Crosse Area

This is a time of monumental change.  For the first time in our country's history nearly all Americans will have the availability of affordable health insurance and therefore true access to health care. This is a revolution in the very nature of health insurance  and this will affect all of us.  No one can be denied insurance for pre-existing conditions.  No one can be dropped from their insurance coverage or be charged more because of a prior medical condition.  All people's insurance must cover at no cost preventive care and screening procedures.  Women can no longer be charged more then men for insurance.  Dental coverage for children is a requirement for being a qualified health insurance plan.  Children under the age of 26 can continue being covered under their parents health insurance.  There will be a maximum amount (cap) our insurance plan is allowed to expect us to pay out-of-pocket (cost-sharing) for our health care each year.

As with all change there will be a period of turmoil, uncertainty and much to be learned and applied.  At our front door beginning October 1st is the enormous task of enrolling into the newly formed Federal Health Insurance Marketplace (previously called the Health Insurance Exchange) all those who are uninsured and those who are going to lose their BadgerCare (Medicaid) coverage.  In our regional network area there are about 30,000people who are uninsured.

To this end La Crosse County along with Monroe, Buffalo, Jackson, Pepin, Trempealeau, Vernon and Clark counties have joined together under the umbrella of The Western Region Enrollment Network  tenderly known as "WREN".   WREN is a consortium of public (e.g. County Health and Human Services, UWL, etc.) and private (e.g. St. Clair Mission, Gundersen, Mayo, etc.) organizations in Western Wisconsin whose goal is to facilitate health insurance applications of the uninsured.

Approximately 160 key people from numerous agencies and organizations gathered on August 26th for a 7 hour working conference to "kick off" WREN.  This conference was awesome in what its attendee's brought to the table with  their commitment and expertise in helping the neediest in our midst.  For in truth so many of the uninsured and those losing BadgerCare are our most vulnerable peoples and some of the hardest people to bring to the table of change. 

Free to the public on Sept. 25th at 5:30 pm in Centennial Hall at UWL will be a panel discussion by state-wide experts knowledgeably  about  the Affordable Care Act including the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace. I encourage all to attend this gathering which is being sponsored by the LWV, AAUM and AMOS.

There will be a role for VOLUNTEERS to assist our community in this health insurance enrollment endeavor.  This is a very fluid process at this point. But as the definition of volunteer tasks becomes more solidified I am hoping that some members of  LWV will be willing to offer their services. I will keep the league updated on this historic event and how the league can help. 

Bill and Grace have three children who have all become accomplished adults.  Will and his wife Beth live in the area.  Will is an artist in print making and his wife Beth is an Ophthalmologist at Gundersen Health Systems.  Nan their daughter lives in Asheville, North Carolina where she enjoys crafts like knitting, weaving, spinning, etc.  Hans, their youngest son, took over Grace's job of adapting artificial plastic eyes.

Bill and Grace have spent their summer adapting to their new living arrangements and enjoying their grandchildren who will be soon returning to college.  They will miss interacting with Zoe and Noah.