Governor Jim Doyle announced that enrollment in BadgerCare Plus Basic begins this week. Individuals who are currently waiting for health care coverage under the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan now have the option to enroll in the Basic plan. BadgerCare Plus Basic is an entirely self-funded health care plan created for more than 50,000 adults without dependent children who are on the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan waiting list. Benefits will start for some enrollees July 1, 2010.
“I am proud Wisconsin is moving forward to help hardworking people purchase basic health care coverage – at no cost to taxpayers – through BadgerCare Plus Basic,” Governor Doyle said. “BadgerCare Plus Basic will help tens of thousands of Wisconsin residents be able to go see a doctor, get the generic prescriptions they need, and receive catastrophic coverage, without costing taxpayers a dime.”
BadgerCare Plus Basic will be paid for through a monthly premium of $130. Members will have access to catastrophic coverage plus:
- Up to 10 physician visits each year;
- Limited hospitalization; Coverage for first inpatient hospital stay and five outpatient hospital visits; Subsequent stays after $7,500 deductible;
- Up to five emergency room visits each year;
- Some generic medications; and
- Badger Rx Gold discount drug membership.
The Basic plan is not designed to be a long-term health coverage plan, but is instead a temporary plan to help people take care of their health care needs while they wait for coverage on the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan. More than 60,000 individuals are currently enrolled in the state’s BadgerCare Plus Core Plan, which suspended new enrollments in mid-October due to budget limits. Since that time, more than 50,000 individuals have been placed on a waitlist for the program.
To be eligible for Basic coverage, individuals must have incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, have no dependent children, and meet all requirements to be included on the waiting list for the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan.
To find out more or to apply for the waitlist and have the opportunity to enroll in BadgerCare Plus Basic, please visit: www.badgercareplus.org or call 1-800-291-2002.
BadgerCare Plus Basic builds on Governor Doyle’s work over the last seven years to make Wisconsin America’s health care leader. Under Governor Doyle’s leadership, Wisconsin now ranks second in the country in the percentage of people with access to health care and first in health care quality. Every Wisconsin child now has access to health care through Governor Doyle’s BadgerCare Plus plan. In addition, since 2009, the Governor’s BadgerCare Plus Core Plan has provided standard health benefits for low income adults without dependent children.
Governor Doyle is also working hard to position Wisconsin to lead in the implementation of national health care reform. For more information on those efforts, visit: www.healthcarereform.wisconsin.gov.
