Department of Employee Trust Funds
July 3, 2009

2010 Health Insurance Changes

The recently-enacted 2009 Wisconsin Act 28 (state budget) contains a number of new health insurance coverage requirements that will affect the State Group Health Insurance Program next year, including:

Available coverage for domestic partners, and generally speaking, expanded coverage for:

• Dependents less than 27 years of age
• Autism
• Mental Health
• Cochlear implants and hearing aids for children under age 18 (this was part of separate legislation- WI Act 14)

These changes will be effective on January 1, 2010 and will apply to the Group Health Insurance Program, offered to insured State and participating local employees and retirees. At this time, we are working with health plans, employers and insurance regulators to determine exactly how these changes will be implemented. We will provide detailed information in the It's Your Choice book for the October health insurance enrollment period.