Health care in Minnesota/Wisconsin? (Duluth: low income, apartment, insurance)

[oatmealia]

Hello! As I posted in a different thread, my fiance and I are planning on moving to the Duluth/Superior area this fall. We will both be going to the University of Wisconsin - Superior. Up until this point we were both covered for health care on our parents' plans, but getting married will end this coverage. We're trying to decide between three different areas to live-- "non-traditional" family dorms in Superior, an apartment in Duluth, or an apartment in Superior. We know that if we stay in Minnesota, we can apply for Minnesota Care as long as our income is less than the cap amount (which it will for a couple years). We've been thinking of this as a pretty strong incentive to live in Duluth, but as we thought about it we realized we didn't really know much about Wisconsin health care and the methods and effects of becoming a Wisconsin resident. So, I have a few questions which all relate to the same theme:

1. How does residency work? We've never moved out of state before. Do we have to become Wisconsin residents after living in Wisconsin for a certain period of time? Does this not apply for those living in college dormitories?
2. What kind of health care programs does Wisconsin have? Will we be able to get affordable health care in Wisconsin as a low income married couple?
3. Is Minnesota Care a strong enough incentive to keep us in Minnesota? Or is it not the life-saving program that it seems to be from the outside?
4. Does anyone know about university health programs? Does UWS offer any kind of benefits or services to students that help with health care? I'm having a hard time finding any information on their website.

Thanks for your time! If anyone is able to help, you'll be lifting a load off our shoulders.

[Jaxx99]

Originally Posted by oatmealia

3. Is Minnesota Care a strong enough incentive to keep us in Minnesota? Or is it not the life-saving program that it seems to be from the outside?
4. Does anyone know about university health programs? Does UWS offer any kind of benefits or services to students that help with health care? I'm having a hard time finding any information on their website.

<<warning -- personal leanings will affect this response>> I have to say, I don't think MinnesotaCare was ever intended to be a reason to move to or keep people in Minnesota. It is a publicy subsidized healthcare safety net -- meant to keep our population from neglecting the most basic and essential healthcare. To put it in perspective, I think a hospital that sees a MinnesotaCare patient only has about 50% of their costs covered by the program. The rest is paid for by them writing off the money, which affects what the nurse gets paid, what new equipment they can buy, etc. You get the picture.

I'd much rather see you go the route of University insurance, coupled with use of the campus health center as your primary care clinic. It is usually reasonable because students are usually not heavy users of care. It is also a way for you to use the healthcare system in a way that has you truly covered by insurance, rather than being subsized by the public and the hospitals.

Just my two cents. I think calling the campus admissions office would put you in touch with the health program point people.

[oatmealia]

Originally Posted by Jaxx99

<<warning -- personal leanings will affect this response>> I have to say, I don't think MinnesotaCare was ever intended to be a reason to move to or keep people in Minnesota. It is a publicy subsidized healthcare safety net -- meant to keep our population from neglecting the most basic and essential healthcare. To put it in perspective, I think a hospital that sees a MinnesotaCare patient only has about 50% of their costs covered by the program. The rest is paid for by them writing off the money, which affects what the nurse gets paid, what new equipment they can buy, etc. You get the picture.

I'd much rather see you go the route of University insurance, coupled with use of the campus health center as your primary care clinic. It is usually reasonable because students are usually not heavy users of care. It is also a way for you to use the healthcare system in a way that has you truly covered by insurance, rather than being subsized by the public and the hospitals.

Just my two cents. I think calling the campus admissions office would put you in touch with the health program point people.

Thank you so much. We are a low-income couple (we're both going to college on scholarships) so it would be a great help to have a medical "safety net," as you say, but there's no reason for us to take advantage of it at a loss to health care professionals. Most that I've heard about it was through word-of-mouth (very strongly positive), so I didn't know if it was a full-fledged coverage program or not. Again, thanks -- your post gives me the right perspective on the program, which I was having a hard time learning from their website.

[JenLee]

I can tell you this much: Minnesota Care is nearly impossible to get on unless you have some SERIOUS health problems!

Both of my kids and a couple of their friends tried to get MN Care when they were college students; and in spite of them both being ADHD and being on moderate (my sons') to expensive (my daughters) meds, PLUS some other health problems; neither they NOR their friends qualified for it.

One young man had a seizure disorder and fell and had a concussion and broke some facial bones; HE didn't qualify for it because of his scholarships.

Definitely look at the health program that is available through the school. At least then you will know that you can get coverage and not have to depend on your parents paying your way.

[oatmealia]

Originally Posted by JenLee

I can tell you this much: Minnesota Care is nearly impossible to get on unless you have some SERIOUS health problems!

Both of my kids and a couple of their friends tried to get MN Care when they were college students; and in spite of them both being ADHD and being on moderate (my sons') to expensive (my daughters) meds, PLUS some other health problems; neither they NOR their friends qualified for it.

One young man had a seizure disorder and fell and had a concussion and broke some facial bones; HE didn't qualify for it because of his scholarships.

Definitely look at the health program that is available through the school. At least then you will know that you can get coverage and not have to depend on your parents paying your way.

Oh my. Well, thank you! We've pretty well decided on Superior by now (nicer neighborhood, if you can believe), but it's nice to have your post as reinforcement.