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Health care going up again in Wisconsin, but don’t blame the insurance companies, says expert

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Pharmaceutical corp. executives 
make more than any other health exec.

Apparently, the days of double digit health insurance premium increases are back.

New numbers by the feds this week show premium hikes requested by insurers on the Affordable Care Act health exchange from 5 to 36 percent around Wisconsin.

But, don’t jump to conclusions on who to blame for the cost hike.

“The insurance companies are not the ones that are taking the money anymore,” Kevin Kane from Citizen Action of Wisconsin said. “It’s far more high-priced procedures and, the fact that now, for the first time ever, pharmaceutical corporation executives make more than any other health executive in any other health field.”

Health insurance companies’ profits are restricted by federal law.

“We really have to step in and come up with a plan to address the underline healthcare cost and not just insurance prices,” Kane said. “We have prescription drug companies and major hosptial chains that are really pushing costs onto more and more people. It’s making healthcare really unaffordable.”

Last year, about 250 million Wisconsinites signed up for coverage on the federal exchange. The vast majority received tax credits to help them pay the premiums.

According to the feds, requested rates for the four health care plans available in the La Crosse area range from 5 to 27 percent.

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