Navigating health care can feel overwhelming. This is especially true for self-employed workers, farmers, and rural families. Covering WI can help. Sunday, August 23rd, the Wisconsin Farmers Union is hosting, “Rural Voices: Health Care in Wisconsin’s Farming Communities”. The event will be at LaClare Family Creamery in Malone, and the goal is to answer questions and get people/families connected to critical health care resources they may be unaware of.
Adam VanSpankeren is the Navigator Program Manager at Covering Wisconsin. He will be one of the guest speakers Sunday. He recently spoke with Pam Jahnke about how they handle hundreds of calls everyday. Connecting people with benefits they don’t even know they have.
What Is Covering Wisconsin?
Covering Wisconsin is part of the UW–Madison Extension. It is the state’s main health insurance Navigator organization.
Funding comes from federal grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The group provides free, unbiased guidance year-round. They help residents enroll in and keep their coverage.
Navigators guide families through:
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Public Programs: Free or low-cost care like Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus.
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Marketplace Plans: Private health plans found on HealthCare.gov.
Better Options for Rural Families
In the past, self-employed workers had few health care choices. Today, the ACA marketplace offers broad coverage for pre-existing conditions. VanSpankeren says Covering WI will dive deep into providers in your area, and do whatever they can to connect you to the service you need.
Rural residents still face unique obstacles:
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Travel Distance: Clinic and hospital locations vary widely by county.
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Specialist Access: Finding local coverage for specific doctors requires careful planning.
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Preventive Care: Marketplace plans cover free annual checkups and basic vaccines.
Common Health Insurance Questions
Wisconsinites usually ask two main questions:
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“How much will this cost?” Costs depend on your location, age, household size, and income. Federal tax credits lower monthly premiums for most buyers.
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“Is my doctor covered?” Navigators check if your preferred clinics, hospitals, and specialists are in-network before you sign up.
Get Free Local Help
Navigators offer phone appointments, web chats, and in-person visits across Wisconsin.
