The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is preparing to implement new federal Medicaid work requirements that could put health insurance coverage at risk for tens of thousands of BadgerCare Plus members. Department of Health Services Secretary Kirsten Johnson and Wisconsin Medicaid Director Amanda Dreyer answered reporters’ questions about how the state plans to implement the new requirements and what members should do now.
What You Need to Know
The new requirements were created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which requires states to implement Medicaid work requirements for some adults. In Wisconsin, the requirements apply to BadgerCare Plus members ages 19 to 64 who do not have a dependent child younger than 19 living with them.
About 200,000 Wisconsin adults will be subject to the new requirements. The agency estimates about 63,000 people are at immediate risk of losing their health care coverage because the state does not currently have documentation showing they meet the requirements or qualify for an exemption.
To keep Medicaid coverage, affected members must show they completed at least 80 hours of employment, volunteer work, school, job training or another qualifying activity in a single month during the 12-month period since they were last approved for health care coverage. Some people may qualify for exemptions, including those who are medically frail or family caregivers.
Work requirements will take effect for new Medicaid applicants early next year. Starting in January 2027, new applicants must meet the federal work requirement in the month before they apply. Current BadgerCare Plus members will be subject to the requirements when they renew their coverage starting in March 2027.
State officials say the most important step is making sure the department has current contact information. Medicaid members should keep their mailing address, phone number and email address up to date to ensure they receive important notices about the upcoming changes.
Original reporting: Wisconsin Watch — read the source article.
