The Wisconsin Association of Health Plans on Tuesday announced that 17 member companies will begin offering policyholders estimates of out-of-pocket health care costs before undergoing a test or procedure.

Enrollment in Wisconsin's new BadgerCare Plus program has far exceeded officials' expectations, with more than 71,000 residents enrolling in the first six weeks of the program.

Enrollment in Wisconsin's new BadgerCare Plus program has began.

The Wisconsin legislature approved the state's final budget on October 23 and did not include a controversial, near-universal health insurance mandate that would have forced every resident to purchase health insurance.

The Healthy Wisconsin universal health insurance coverage plan, which would provide coverage for 276,000 people who have been uninsured for more than one year, would be financed by a 9% to 12% tax on employer payrolls and a 4% tax on employees' wages.