Wisconsin Statutes were expanded in 2005 to allow for the formation of health benefit purchasing cooperatives. Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin (‘CHC’) was formed in late 2008 to bring affordable health insurance to western, west central, and northwest Wisconsin.

In February 2009, the Office of the Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) approved an Order designating the geographic territory of CHC’s operations. It includes 17 counties – Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.

For businesses to access health insurance, they must sign up as a member of the CHC Cooperative. Eligible members of the cooperative include large and small businesses, the self employed, non-profit organizations, local units of government (towns, villages, cities, counties, and school districts, etc.), rural utility cooperatives, trade and labor organizations, and business partnerships.