Wisconsin is checking if you still qualify for BadgerCare Plus. Here's how to keep your health coverage
Over the next year, Wisconsin residents enrolled in BadgerCare Plus or another Medicaid program will have to renew their coverage for the first time in over three years.
It is a massive undertaking — known as Medicaid "unwinding" — that could result in an estimated 300,000 Wisconsinites losing Medicaid coverage. Many of those people will have health coverage through their employer, but others could lose coverage simply because they didn't renew in time, even though they still qualify for BadgerCare Plus or another Medicaid program.
A December report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute estimated that about 49,000 Wisconsinites who lose Medicaid coverage will become uninsured over the next year.
Here's what you need to know about renewing BadgerCare Plus or other Medicaid benefits.
What is Medicaid "unwinding"?
"Unwinding" refers to the process of states resuming their reviews of Medicaid recipients' eligibility, a practice that was on hold during the pandemic.
For the first time since March 2020, people enrolled in BadgerCare Plus and other Medicaid programs will need to renew their benefits by showing they still qualify for them. That's done by submitting updated information about things like income, household size and insurance.
I am enrolled in BadgerCare Plus or another Medicaid program. What does the Medicaid unwinding mean for me?
You will need to renew your benefits by an assigned due date. You will lose your benefits if you do not complete the renewal by the due date.
I am enrolled in BadgerCare Plus or another Medicaid program. When is the renewal due date?
The due date will differ from person to person. Your due date is anywhere between June 2023 and May 2024.
Double check the year of your due date.
I am enrolled in BadgerCare Plus or another Medicaid program. How do I find my renewal due date?
You should have received a letter in the mail with your renewal due date. The letter would have arrived in late March or early April from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
You can also find your due date online by logging in to your ACCESS account at access.wi.gov or by using the MyACCESS mobile app. If you don't have an account, you can create one online at access.wi.gov.
Also, you should receive a packet in the mail about a month and a half before your due date, with details about your renewal. A digital version of the packet will also show up in your ACCESS account.
When is the best time to renew my BadgerCare Plus or other Medicaid coverage?
Wait until the month of your due date to renew. But make sure to submit your renewal by the middle of that month, state officials urge.
That gives local agencies time to process your renewal and ensures you don't temporarily lose coverage if local agencies are experiencing a backlog in processing renewals.
How do I renew my BadgerCare Plus or other Medicaid coverage?
Officials recommend you renew your coverage online, since call centers may be overwhelmed.
Go to access.wi.gov to complete the renewal by submitting information about household, income, insurance and other details. You may need to submit proof of information. The easiest way to submit documents is by using the MyACCESS mobile app to take a picture.
You can also renew by phone or in-person by contacting the local agency in charge of enrolling people in BadgerCare or other Medicaid programs. Find your local agency at dhs.wisconsin.gov/forwardhealth/imagency.
However, your local agency may experience high call volumes that result in longer wait times than normal.
You may also submit your renewal by mail. You should receive a paper renewal packet in the mail about a month before your renewal due date.
Where can I download the MyACCESS app?
You can download the MyACCESS mobile app for free on the App Store or Google Play.
Search for "MyACCESS Wisconsin" in either the App Store or Google Play. The developer listed on the app will be the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Why should I download the MyACCESS app?
It will tell you your renewal due date. It also will push reminders to you when you are in the window to renew your benefits.
What proof should I have when I go to renew my BadgerCare Plus coverage?
You may be asked to submit proof of information, such as income, disability or Wisconsin residency. Examples of proof of income include pay stubs from the last 30 days or your most recent tax forms. Other examples of proof can be found at dhs.wisconsin.gov/forwardhealth/resources.htm.
What if I am no longer eligible for BadgerCare Plus?
If you don't already have access to health insurance through your employer, you may purchase a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov. Get in touch with a health insurance navigator to help you choose the right plan and to ensure you don't lose coverage at any point when making the switch.
Navigators at Covering Wisconsin, a nonprofit program based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are available to help for free. Go to coveringwi.org/enroll to schedule an appointment.
Or visit WisCovered.com to be connected to free, expert help.
How do I get help with renewing my BadgerCare Plus coverage or finding other health insurance?
You can get help renewing your benefits from local agencies in charge of enrolling people in BadgerCare or other Medicaid programs. Find your local agency at dhs.wisconsin.gov/forwardhealth/imagency.
For free, expert help from navigators at Covering Wisconsin, a nonprofit based at UW-Madison, schedule an appointment online at coveringwi.org/enroll. For help in Spanish, go to coveringwi.org/enrollspanish.
To reach Covering Wisconsin by phone, call 608-261-1455 or text COVER to 920-507-5295. For help in Spanish, call 608-255-3018 or text SEGURO to 920-507-5295.
You can also call 2-1-1 or go to WisCovered.com, which was created by the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance along with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, to be connected to free, expert help.
Or to find a local agent, broker or assister trained to help you find coverage, go to localhelp.healthcare.gov.
What if I miss my due date to renew my BadgerCare Plus or other Medicaid benefits?
In some situations, you may be able to do a late renewal up to three months after your due date, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Check with your local agency to see if that's possible. Find your local agency by going to dhs.wisconsin.gov/forwardhealth/imagency.
If not, call 2-1-1 or visit WisCovered.com to get help finding other coverage.
I am enrolled in BadgerCare Plus or another Medicaid program. Where can I go to update my address?
The easiest way for enrollees to update their address and contact information is at access.wi.gov or by using the MyACCESS mobile app.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Are you on BadgerCare Plus? How to keep your health coverage