| Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Announces Approved Changes to BadgerCare Late on April 27th, Wisconsin received word from federal officials that the Department of Health Services (DHS) may proceed with a portion of the proposed changes to BadgerCare. DHS immediately initiated the process of putting most of those changes into effect, beginning on July 1, 2012.
Good News: - Because of protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), CMS didn't approve Wisconsin's Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Waiver as proposed by Governor Walker which would have caused 64,000 Wisconsinites to lose their BadgerCare coverage.
- Approved changes do not impact kids - higher premiums won't apply.
- Presumptive eligibility / express enrollment protected.
- Family unit definition will not be changed.
- Young adults won't be forced off BadgerCare onto parent's employer sponsored insurance.
Bad News: - At least 17,000 adults in Wisconsin will lose their BadgerCare coverage.
- 48,000 Wisconsinites will now have higher BadgerCare premiums.
- Enrollment for the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan remains capped with over 128,000 individuals still on the waiting list.
- Plan could "crowd out" and force adults onto employer sponsored coverage plans regardless of quality or actual affordability.
A new fact sheet from WCCF is available that summarizes the CMS approved changes to BadgerCare. There's Still Work to be Done to Protect BadgerCare! Send a message* to Governor Walker and Secretary Smith today asking to protect BadgerCare by: - Scheduling a special legislative session to take up and pass the BadgerCare Protection Act which would prevent 17,000 Wisconsinites from losing their BadgerCare coverage, and
- Lifting the BadgerCare Core Plan enrollment cap which could provide essential health care coverage for adults who qualify.
*Simply link here and select Governor Walker & Secretary Smith. Then on the next page, select "Protect BadgerCare" as your subject. Additional Information & Resources: |
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