Paul Sanchez
BadgerCare Plus, known informally as BadgerCare, is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents. It was created by former governor Tommy Thompson and modified by former governor Jim Doyle. The program provides health insurance benefits to people aged 0-64 and is the state's largest Medicaid program, with roughly 1 million members. Over time, the program has undergone several changes, including expansions and funding cuts, and has been referred to by different names such as BadgerCare+ and BadgerCare+ Basic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name Change | BadgerCare Plus is the official name of the program. It is often referred to simply as BadgerCare or BC+ as shorthand. |
| Type of Program | BadgerCare Plus is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents. |
| Coverage | BadgerCare Plus covers health insurance benefits for people aged 0-64. It covers preventive care, urgent and emergency visits, vaccinations, prescriptions, and more. |
| Cost | Premium amounts are based on household income. There is a limit on how much members pay for copays each month, and it will never be more than 5% of their total gross income. |
| Eligibility | Eligibility is based on the federal poverty level (FPL). Families with incomes up to 185% of FPL can enroll, and can remain on BadgerCare as long as their incomes do not exceed 200% of FPL. |
| Administration | BadgerCare Plus is overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. |
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What You'll Learn
- BadgerCare Plus is the full name
- BadgerCare+ Core and BadgerCare+ Basic are two different plans
- BadgerCare is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents
- BadgerCare Plus covers health care services, prescriptions, and more
- BadgerCare Plus provides non-emergency medical transportation
BadgerCare Plus is the full name
BadgerCare Plus was created by former governor Tommy Thompson and modified by former governor Jim Doyle. It was passed in the wake of the Clinton administration's social service overhaul, which replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. BadgerCare Plus was launched in July 1999 to provide coverage to families with uninsured children who were transitioning off welfare.
Before the implementation of the federally-funded State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) initiative, Governor Thompson had wished to create a state-level family healthcare plan that used both Medicaid and SCHIP funds. In 2006, the Democratic-controlled Wisconsin Senate passed a bill nicknamed the "Healthy Wisconsin proposal," which would have created near-universal healthcare in the state. However, Governor Doyle chose to expand BadgerCare instead, claiming that 98% of Wisconsinites would have some form of health insurance under his expansion.
The revised program, named BadgerCare+, began functioning on February 1, 2008, and included expanded enrollment. To address the high demand for the BadgerCare+ Core plan, Governor Doyle proposed an additional plan named BadgerCare+ Basic, targeted at childless adults. This plan was funded by a $130 premium paid by the policyholder and offered limited coverage for doctor, inpatient hospital, outpatient, and emergency room visits, as well as some medications.
BadgerCare Plus provides a range of health care services, with some members receiving all services at no cost and others having copays for certain services. The program covers preventive care, urgent and emergency visits, vaccinations, prescriptions, and more. It also offers non-emergency medical transportation to and from healthcare appointments and provides access to physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
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BadgerCare+ Core and BadgerCare+ Basic are two different plans
BadgerCare Plus, informally known as BadgerCare, is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents. It is the state's largest Medicaid program, with roughly 1 million members. It provides health insurance benefits to people aged 0-64.
BadgerCare Plus was created by former governor Tommy Thompson and modified by former governor Jim Doyle. The latter expanded the program, claiming that 98% of Wisconsinites would have some form of health insurance under his expansion. He renamed the revised program BadgerCare+ and included it in his 2007-2009 biennial budget. This new program began functioning on February 1, 2008, and expanded enrollment to families with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
Due to the extremely high number of applications for the BadgerCare+ Core plan, Doyle suspended enrollments for that program in October 2009. To address the needs of the thousands of Wisconsinites still seeking coverage, he proposed an additional plan named BadgerCare+ Basic, targeted at childless adults. This plan would be funded by a $130 premium paid by the policyholder, covering up to 10 doctor visits, one inpatient hospital visit, five outpatient visits, up to five emergency room visits, some generic medications, and discounts on other drugs.
Thus, BadgerCare+ Core and BadgerCare+ Basic are two different plans. BadgerCare+ Core, part of the revised BadgerCare+ program, experienced a suspension of enrollments due to budget constraints. In contrast, BadgerCare+ Basic was introduced as an additional plan to cater to childless adults and is funded by policyholder premiums.
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BadgerCare is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents
BadgerCare, formally known as BadgerCare Plus, is a public healthcare coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents. It was created by former governor Tommy Thompson and modified by former governor Jim Doyle. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services oversees the program's implementation.
Before the federally-funded State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) initiative, Governor Tommy Thompson had wanted to create a state-level family healthcare plan that used both Medicaid and SCHIP funds. BadgerCare was passed in the wake of the Clinton administration's social service overhaul, replacing Aid to Families with Dependent Children with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It was launched in July 1999. The goal was to provide coverage to families with uninsured children who were transitioning from welfare
Under the original conditions of BadgerCare, families could enrol if their net incomes were up to 185% of the federal poverty level (about $31,000 for a family of four in 2000). They could remain on BadgerCare as long as their incomes did not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level. Unlike Medicaid, a family applying for BadgerCare did not need to pass an "asset test" to qualify.
In 2006, the Democratic-controlled Wisconsin Senate passed a bill nicknamed the "Healthy Wisconsin proposal". This would have created a near-universal health care system in Wisconsin, similar to the Massachusetts health care reform of 2006. The Healthy Wisconsin proposal would have mandated insurance coverage for any individual not on Medicare or BadgerCare. However, it would not have covered dental or eye care, long-term care, or unnecessary cosmetic surgery.
In 2007, Governor Doyle chose to expand BadgerCare, claiming that 98% of Wisconsinites would have some form of health insurance under his expansion. He renamed the program BadgerCare+ and included it in his 2007-2009 biennial budget. The revised plan also covered tobacco cessation products such as nicotine gum. However, due to the high number of applications, Doyle suspended enrolments for the program in October 2009, with 21,000 individuals still on the waiting list.
Today, BadgerCare Plus provides health insurance benefits to people aged 0-64 and is the state's largest Medicaid program, with roughly 1 million members. It covers preventive care, urgent and emergency visits, vaccinations, prescriptions, and more. Premium amounts are based on household income, and children aged 1 through 18 enrolled in the program with family incomes over 201% of the federal poverty level are charged a premium unless they are exempt.
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BadgerCare Plus covers health care services, prescriptions, and more
BadgerCare Plus is a health care program that provides health insurance benefits to people aged 0-64 in Wisconsin. It is the state's largest Medicaid program, with approximately 1 million members. BadgerCare Plus covers a wide range of health care services, prescriptions, and more.
The program covers preventive care, urgent and emergency visits, and vaccinations. It also includes coverage for prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. BadgerCare Plus members can access care from nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians. Additionally, it covers lab work, X-rays, medical supplies, and equipment.
BadgerCare Plus also provides coverage for specific health care needs, such as dental care, eye care (including eyeglasses), and foot care (podiatry). It offers physical and occupational therapy, as well as respiratory care for individuals requiring ventilator support. Speech, hearing, and language disorder services are also included in the coverage.
The program offers support for family planning needs and supplies, as well as case management services like meetings with a social worker. BadgerCare Plus assists members in quitting smoking through smoking cessation treatment. It also helps with transportation to health care appointments.
For pregnant individuals or those who have had a baby recently, BadgerCare Plus offers additional support. This includes skilled nursing home care and two meals per day for up to 12 weeks, or longer if medically necessary, at no cost under certain conditions.
It's important to note that there may be copays for some health services, and these copays are based on family income and size. However, members under the age of 19 are exempt from copays, and there is a limit on the maximum amount members pay for copays each month.
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BadgerCare Plus provides non-emergency medical transportation
BadgerCare Plus is the state of Wisconsin's largest Medicaid program, providing health insurance benefits to people aged 0-64. It covers preventive care, urgent and emergency visits, vaccinations, prescriptions, and more.
The program provides non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services to its members. If a member cannot ride a bus or use their own car, they can contact the NEMT manager, who will schedule a ride based on their medical and transportation needs. This may include the use of a specialized medical vehicle, and the member may have to share the ride with another rider. The service is free of charge for those enrolled in BadgerCare Plus and other specified programs.
To schedule a ride, members can call 866-907-1493 or 711 (TTY). They will need to provide their personal information, including their date of birth, home address, phone number, and ForwardHealth member ID. They will also need to give the details of their appointment and any special requirements for the ride, such as if they are bringing a child or a medically necessary escort.
Members can also schedule, manage, and cancel trips online through the MTM Link Portal. MTM Health coordinates the NEMT program in Wisconsin, aiming to provide quality-driven transportation services that support members, medical facilities, and transportation providers.
It is important to note that BadgerCare Plus is different from BadgerCare, which is often used as shorthand for the program. BadgerCare Plus is the official name of the program, and it provides the health insurance benefits outlined above, including non-emergency medical transportation, to its members.
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Frequently asked questions
BadgerCare Plus is the official name for the program, but it is often referred to simply as BadgerCare. In 2008, former governor Jim Doyle expanded BadgerCare and renamed it BadgerCare+ (or BadgerCare Plus).
BadgerCare Plus covers preventive care, urgent and emergency visits, vaccinations, prescriptions, and more.
Premium amounts are based on household income. There is a limit on how much you pay for copays each month, and this will never be more than 5% of your total gross income.
Your ForwardHealth card will be sent to you and includes your name, a 10-digit number, and a magnetic stripe. You must show this card when you go to the doctor or pick up medicine at the pharmacy.
You can choose an HMO from the packet and letter sent to you. If you do not choose an HMO by the due date, one will be chosen for you.
To view eligibility requirements, visit the BadgerCare Plus section on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.
