Wisconsin

Status of reform effort: On October 26, 2007, Governor Jim Doyle (D) signed the biennial state budget, which provides universal coverage for children and expands Medicaid coverage for parents and childless adults up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. 

In January 2006, Governor Jim Doyle (D) introduced Badgercare Plus, which sought to provide universal health care coverage for children and expand coverage to adults below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.  BadgerCare Plus would merge three existing programs Family Medicaid, BadgerCare and Healthy Start. Children with family incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level would be able to enroll at no cost; children with higher family incomes would be charged sliding scale premiums based on income, not to exceed 5 percent of family income.  In February 2007, the proposal was introduced as one component of the 2007-2009 Biennial Budget Bill, SB 40. 

On October 26, 2007, Governor Jim Doyle (D) signed the state budget bill (2007 Wisconsin Act 20), which included provisions of the Governor’s BadgerCare Plus proposal.  The bill provides universal health care coverage for all children, regardless of income. 

The legislation does the following:

• Extends SCHIP eligibility to children with family incomes up to 300 percent FPL (the state will use state-only funds to finance coverage of children with family incomes between 250 and 300 percent FPL, in order to abide by the current guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).
• Requires children in families with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level to pay a premium, while those in families above 300 percent of the federal poverty level will be able to buy-in to the program at full-cost, approximately $80/month/per child.
• Expands health care coverage for parents and caretaker relatives up to 200 percent FPL under Medicaid and to pregnant women up to 300 percent FPL with no premium or cost-sharing requirements. 

In January 2009, coverage for childless adults will expand to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, under Medicaid.  The legislation also simplifies eligibility rules, assists employees in purchasing affordable health care coverage, and provides incentives for healthy behavior.  BadgerCare Plus will be financed with federal and state funds.

In his 2008 State of the State address, Governor Doyle proposed BadgerChoice, a plan to make health insurance affordable for small businesses.  The plan would establish an insurance exchange, providing small business employees with several private health insurance options.  The plan would also provide premium subsidies for low and moderate income individuals.*

* 2007 Wisconsin Act 20. See bill text: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/.

Updated as of 1/29/08