United St. Croix Valley Legislative Days

Thank-you for your continued interest in
Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin (CHC).

The deadline for submitting confidential information for inclusion in the initial pool of insurance coverage later this year has closed.

CHC’s interim board of directors authorized the distribution of a Request For Proposals (RFP) to major health insurance carriers. The RFP is in process and will lead to pricing on insurance coverage. These details will be communicated back to prospective members of CHC reasonably soon.

Please check for the website for updates.

Current News:

Wisconsin Public Radio - The West Side, Host Mary Jo Wagner
Thursday, May 28, 2009: 17 counties have formed the Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin to provide health insurance for small businesses, non-profits, municipalities and possibly schools. A strong "wellness" factor is part of keeping rates down. Guests include Exec. Dir. of the St. Croix County Economic Development Corporation, Bill Rubin. He's coordinating the Co-op's formation. Carol Bulman is a Benefit Specialist with the RiverBank Insurance Center and also on the Steering Committee. Congressman Ron Kind is author of a national plan to provide insurance for small businesses. We compare and contrast the plans. . .
Click here to go to WPR Audio Archives

CHC Prospective Member Information:

View Archived Health Benefit Purchasing Co-op Webcast 5/14/09
Learn about plans to bring affordable health insurance to the region.

View the Presentation from the 5/14/09 CHC Webcast

View Questions & Answers from the 5/14/09 Webcast

CHC Prospective Member Forms & Documents:

CHC Confidential Employee Health Questionnaire
Must be completed and returned by June 19, 2009

Checklist and Acknowledgment for Employers and Prospective Members

Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)

Adoption of Business Associate Contract

Draft of CHC Member Application

CHC Broker Information:

Thank you for your interest in being a broker with the Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin (CHC) program. Please view the broker summary memo with training information and a registration form for course on Ethics.

Summary from Broker Webinar with Training Information

CHC Ethics in Consumer-Driven Health Plans Registration

View CHC Brokers Presentation from 5/28/09

View CHC Community Partnership Agreement

Learn More:

Read an Overview on the Proposed Cooperative

View a Presentation on the Proposed Cooperative

The Basics of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

The Basics of a Consumer Driven High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account

Read a CHC News Story:

From the Hudson Star-Observer (6/6/09) Health cooperative moves to next steps. Following a May 14 webcast that attracted almost 150 online viewers, Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin is asking interested parties to complete a series of documents that will lead to health insurance coverage later this year. . . Read More>

From the Oceola Sun (5/19/09) by Jan Haralson
Western Wisconsin health care co-op nears reality: Prospective members must act soon. The availability of affordable health care to people normally shut out of health insurance is coming to a show down in western Wisconsin. . . Read More>

CHC Extends Deadline: Health Questionnaires Due June 19

CHC Announces Webcast

Regional Health Cooperative Honored at Synergy Conference

From BusinessNorth (October 2008) Co-ops emerge to buy group health insurance. . . Read More>

From The Business News (6/16/08) Group Looks at forming healthcare co-op in area. . . Read More>

About the origin of the cooperative

About the health care survey

Cooperative Health Choices (CHC) of Western Wisconsin Steering Committee Meeting Notes:

Last Spring, a steering committee was formed to study the possible creation of a health care insurance cooperative in western, west central, and northwest Wisconsin. Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin (CHC) was formed in late 2008 with the adoption of By-laws and Articles of Incorporation. CHC's board anticipates health insurance coverage to members of the cooperative by late 2009. CHC leverages the purchasing power of a larger group. CHC relies on the basic principles of a cooperative—voluntary and open membership, member participation, and democratic member control—to provide affordable health insurance to its members. CHC will offer insurance through an agreement with an insurance company within a 17-county region in western, west central, and northwest Wisconsin. The region includes Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn counties. Membership in CHC includes large and small for-profit corporations, non-profit corporations, self-employed persons, local units of government, trade and labor organizations, rural utility cooperatives, and business partnerships located in the 17-county region.

For more information on Cooperative Health Choices (CHC) of Western Wisconsin please contact: