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Governor announces state BadgerCare approval

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Also by Kevin Bargnes:

Doyle wants legislators in session (December 10, 2007)
Residents will vote on City, Town of Verona merger (December 10, 2007)
Doyle to beef up agriculture funds (December 3, 2007)
Governor announces state BadgerCare approval (November 29, 2007)
Doyle, other governors vow to reduce emissions (November 19, 2007)

by Kevin Bargnes

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Gov. Jim Doyle announced Tuesday the state's new health care plan, BadgerCare Plus, was granted federal approval allowing every child in Wisconsin to receive health care at no or low cost.

"I am pleased the federal government has given Wisconsin the ability to move forward with BadgerCare Plus, so we can fulfill our moral obligation to provide every child in Wisconsin with access to good, comprehensive health care," Doyle said in a statement Tuesday.

By combining services from BadgerCare, Medicaid and Healthy Start, families of four who make less than $41,300 a year will be eligible to enroll their children in BadgerCare Plus for free.

Families of four making between $41,300 and $61,950 will pay a premium of between $10 and $63 a month per child. Those that make more than $61,950 will pay a premium of $68.25 a month per child.

The program will also be available to pregnant women, certain parents and caretakers, and adults 18-21 after leaving the foster care program, according to Claire Smith, spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services.

"It will make sure that every child in Wisconsin will have access to affordable, extensive health care," Smith said.

Co-payments of $5 per prescription and $100 per hospital visit will be required in order to offset costs, Smith said, however, they will be considerably less for lower income families.

Also, co-payments will not be a part of the plan for children below the poverty line and children of tribal members.

Pregnant women, Smith added, will also not be required to pay co-payments. They can use BadgerCare Plus if they make less than three times the poverty line, and parents may use BadgerCare Plus if they make less than twice the poverty line.

Families will be able to sign up for BadgerCare Plus Feb. 1, 2008 by visiting the program's website at www.badgercareplus.org, Smith said.

"Health care in Wisconsin should be a birthright, not a ticket to bankruptcy," Doyle said in the release. "BadgerCare Plus is simple and will provide health care coverage to more families who need it."

Starting in January 2009, BadgerCare Plus will be expanded to include childless adults from ages 18-64, Smith said. This will allow University of Wisconsin students, with or without children, the ability to obtain cheap, affordable health care.

Representatives from the governor's office declined further comment beyond Doyle’s statement.

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