10-3-13 self insured-wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker says no decision has been reached yet on whether the state will shift state employees from health maintenance organizations to a state self-insured program.  Walker said Wednesday that the Group Insurance Board continues to study the issue and no decision on what action to recommend will be made until possibly early next year.  At least 20 states have self-insurance programs for their employees. In Wisconsin, the state contracts with 18 HMOs to cover its 236,000 employees. The Group Insurance Board is scheduled to meet Oct. 11 to discuss seeking proposals from insurance companies interested in administering the self-insured program.  Walker says there's nothing wrong with getting more information to see if it makes sense to change the system.