July 21, 2010: Starting July 1, Wisconsin began offering health benefits for low-income adults through its new self-funded health care plan, BadgerCare Plus Basic. This plan was created in order to provide basic services for the more than 50,000 adults on the waiting list for Wisconsin’s BadgerCare Plus Core Plan, a more comprehensive program that suspended enrollment in October 2009 because of state budget constraints.
To qualify for BadgerCare Plus Basic, individuals must be childless adults below 200% of the federal poverty level and currently on the Core Plan waiting list. On an annual basis, BadgerCare Plus Basic will provide catastrophic coverage; limited emergency, physician, and hospitalization coverage; access to some generic prescriptions; and membership in the Badger Rx Gold discount drug program. The Basic plan is funded through monthly premiums of $130 from each enrollee.
The research team led by SHARE grantee Tom Oliver is investigating Wisconsin’s BadgerCare Plus program, evaluating efforts to expand coverage and simplify enrollment and eligibility. Preliminary findings from this research are detailed in a recent issue brief, which can be found here. The Wisconsin research team is also participating in ongoing evaluation activities with the state.