What should you know if you get a letter telling you that your BadgerCare Plus or Core benefits may be ending.


You may soon get a letter telling you that your BadgerCare eligibility may end at the end of December because of your income. The letter also tells you to apply for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

• If you receive this letter, here’s what you need to know – You may still be eligible for BadgerCare in 2014 because the income counting rules are changing. BadgerCare will not start using the new rules until January 2014.

•  The Health Insurance Marketplace will use the new income counting rules beginning October 1, 2013. If you apply for insurance through the Marketplace anytime after October 1, 2013, the Marketplace will use the new rules to decide whether you can keep your BadgerCare in 2014.

• If the Marketplace decides that you will still be eligible for BadgerCare in 2014, BadgerCare will accept that decision and you will keep your BadgerCare. You will get a letter from BadgerCare telling you that you are still eligible in 2014.

•  If the Marketplace decides that you are not eligible for BadgerCare you will need to enroll in insurance through the Marketplace. The Marketplace will help you enroll. The federal government will pay part of your premium. Most people who are now on BadgerCare will also be eligible for limits on co-pays and deductibles.

Here’s what you should do -

•  Because marketplace will apply the new income rules beginning October 1 but BadgerCare will not, the best way to tell whether you will still be eligible for BadgerCare in 2014 is to apply through the Health Insurance Marketplace. It is also called the Federally Facilitated Marketplace or the Exchange. Apply as soon as you can, beginning October 1, 2013.

•  To find out how to apply for health insurance, including BadgerCare and Medical Assistance through the Marketplace, and how you can get help paying for insurance, and limit your co-pays and deductibles, go to:

https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/individual/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_campaign=hcgov_15days&utm_content=09_17_13#state=wisconsin

Or call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)

Prepared by Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.
September 2013