Hospitals react to health insurance findings

A study of Wisconsin’s state employee health insurance plan shows La Crosse has the highest single monthly premium rates of the state’s metro areas. Citizen Action of Wisconsin released its sixth annual Wisconsin Health Insurance Cost Ranking, showing a 32 percent variation between Madison, the lowest-cost metro area, and La Crosse, which amounts to a difference of $2,177 per year for single health coverage. But local hospital officials say it’s an unfair comparison to make, since the report looks at health care premium costs for just one group. (LA CROSSE TRIBUNE, 12/23)