Wisconsin reaches agreement with federal government to expand healthcare plan
The state of Wisconsin has reached preliminary agreement with the federal government for a five-year federal waiver allowing the state to expand its BadgerCare Plus healthcare plan.
Under the proposal, Wisconsin residents who are uninsured and who do not have children under their care may have access to primary and preventive care. The waiver proposal builds upon Wisconsin's existing BadgerCare Plus program.
"Today we cleared one of the final hurdles on the way toward my goal of providing access to health insurance for 98 percent of Wisconsin residents," said Gov. Jim Doyle. "However, the significant downturn in the national economy, and its effect on the state's fiscal situation, will challenge our ability to quickly extend this program."
Doyle thanked Wisconsin's Congressional delegation for their bipartisan work to encourage the federal government to support the new healthcare plan.
State and federal officials are working to complete the waiver. Once the plan is final, the state will use federal funding that previously supported uncompensated care to provide health insurance coverage to low-income adults.
The BadgerCare Plus Core Plan is directed at income-eligible adults in Wisconsin from age 19 through 64 who do not have children or dependent children under age 19 living with them. The plan is for adults who were previously not eligible to enroll in state and federal health programs.
Additionally, individuals who have had health insurance or had access to employer-subsidized health insurance during the previous 12 months are not eligible for the Core Plan.
Doyle said the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan for Childless Adults is neither a standard Medicaid benefit nor an entitlement program, and will be a limited benefit due to strict state and federal budgetary limits. The program will cover basic healthcare services, including primary and preventive care and generic drugs.
State officials said every adult who applies to the program would have to complete an online health needs assessment before their application can be submitted for approval, and all members must receive a comprehensive physical exam within the first year of being enrolled in the program.
After final federal approval, the state intends to develop an enrollment plan based upon available state resources. Adults who may be able to enroll can make no more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($20,800 each year for a single person and $28,000 for a married couple) each year. These amounts are based on federal guidelines, which increase by a small amount each year.
