More People Are Now On BadgerCare, Following Walker’s Changes To Program

Medicaid figures released on Monday show that BadgerCare is available to about 81,000 more people below the poverty line because of Gov. Scott Walker’s decision to do away with a waiting list for childless adults.

The figures also showed that about 62,000 people will no longer receive BadgerCare due to Walker’s decision to make those with slightly higher incomes ineligible. That means that as it stands now, Walker’s changes have resulted in a net increase of people receiving BadgerCare. The state orginally estimated that the number of people kicked off Badgercare would roughly equal those added to the program.

It’s not yet known how many of those who became ineligible bought private insurance, though critics contend they would not be able to afford the premiums and copays of private insurance.

“We don’t know if they migrated over to the health care marketplace,” said Bobby Peterson with ABC for Health. “The state characterized it as folks transitioning. It’s a little more difficult than transitioning. It’s like walking through a corn maze trying to figure your way to coverage.”

A special exemption to the marketplace deadline allows those kicked off BadgerCare to sign up for private coverage through the end of May. Department of Health Services spokeswoman Claire Smith says the agency sent a final reminder in mid-April to those no longer eligible, “reminding them of their health care options and encouraging them to purchase private insurance through the marketplace.”

Smith says the state is working with federal officials to determine how many people no longer eligible for BadgerCare actually obtained private coverage on the marketplace.

When announcing his changes limiting BadgerCare to those below the poverty line last year, Walker said he wanted the program to be a temporary “hand up,” not a hand out.