The Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, a nonprofit health insurance cooperative being formed in Wisconsin, announced it has received its Certificate of Authority from the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.
The certificate brings the insurance cooperative one-step closer to providing health insurance solutions to southeastern Wisconsin.
The Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, launched in February 2012, is on track to enroll interested individuals and small employers in their health insurance products beginning Oct. 1, 2013, for coverage that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014.
“The obtainment of our Certificate of Authority is a critical step to bringing quality health insurance to individuals, nonprofits and small employers in the region,” said Bob Connolly, chairman of the board of directors of the Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative. “Our team has worked tirelessly over the past year to build the foundation of a new health insurance company, and it’s thrilling to know that in a matter of months, it will be a reality.”
The Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative was awarded a loan from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch the new nonprofit organization and bring affordable health insurance to the region beginning Jan. 1, 2014. The federal Affordable Care Act authorized establishment of consumer-directed cooperatives, designed to increase competition among health insurers and to encourage states to innovatively expand health insurance coverage.
“Our model is to operate a nonprofit cooperative where we continuously reinvest any excess earnings we achieve back within the cooperative to keep premium costs low and bring enhanced benefits to our members,” said Bob De Vita, chief executive officer of the Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative.
De Vita emphasized that the cooperative’s framework is founded on three aspects: improve the health of the population (our communities); improve the members’ health insurance experience; and reduce the costs of health care.
“By ‘Putting your health first’, we plan to help members’ manage their health care and provide choices through various health plans,” said De Vita.
The approach encourages members to take responsibility for their own health.
“We will partner with health care systems who offer timely and appropriate care for our members,” said De Vita.
The Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative is locally managed and operated.
“Our team has extensive knowledge of the local healthcare landscape, understands issues and concerns facing local individuals and small employers and is involved in the surrounding communities,” Connolly said.
The cooperative’s leadership said it will incorporate member feedback into continuous enhancement of the benefits and services.
Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative is a member-governed and operated nonprofit health insurance company serving the seven-county (Milwaukee, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha) area in southeastern Wisconsin.
For additional information, visit www.commongroundhealthcare.org.
