Wisconsin Governor Doyle Announces Suspension of BadgerCare Plus Core Plan Enrollment

Calls for National Health Care Reform

October 05, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the state is approaching the maximum number of enrollees for the new BadgerCare Plus Core Plan for adults without dependent children and will suspend enrollment at noon this Friday, October 9th.

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Everyone who applies after noon on Friday will be added to a waiting list. The Department of Health Services (DHS) began taking applications for the plan on June 15, 2009.

“The fact that we have to implement a waiting list is not surprising – the fact that we have to apply the waiting list three months after taking the first application is,” Governor Doyle said. “Since we began taking applications we have received 500 to 600 applications each day and more than half of these individuals have no income whatsoever. I can think of no clearer demonstration of the need for national health care reform. Despite the tremendous work we have done here in Wisconsin, BadgerCare Plus, and state plans like it, are merely bridges to get us to national health reform.”

Governor Doyle directed DHS to design a proposal to offer some basic level of coverage for those on the Core Plan waiting list. The plan would be self-funded and not include any taxpayer funding, but would offer some form of coverage while individuals waited to be enrolled in the Core Plan.

According to Medicaid rules, the Core Plan must be budget neutral which means that there is a set amount of money that can be spent on the program. The state estimates that the program can afford to cover approximately 54,000 individuals and nearly 60,000 applications have been received so far.

Governor Doyle was introduced at today’s event by Tony Camera, who lives in Genoa City with his wife Pamela. Both were laid-off from their jobs earlier this year, but have been able to get health care through BadgerCare Plus.

Because of the high demand expected in the remaining days of enrollment, the state is strongly encouraging individuals who have yet to apply to do so online at www.badgercareplus.org.

Individuals may wish to consider applying for the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan if they:

* Are a Wisconsin resident between the ages of 19 through 64;
* Are a U.S. Citizen or qualifying immigrant;
* Do not have dependent children, under age 19, living with them and are not pregnant;
* Have a monthly family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($21,660 per year for a single person and $29,139 per year for a married couple);
* Do not have health insurance or have not had access to employer subsidized health insurance during the previous 12 months, with a few exceptions; and
* Are not enrolled in or able to enroll in BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid or Medicare.

Statements from the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation on the Success of BadgerCare Plus and the Need for National Health Care Reform:

“If there was any doubt that instituting a public health care option would fulfill a great need, let the overwhelming response to Badger Care Plus prove otherwise. Even in Wisconsin, which boasts several model health care programs, people are clamoring for affordable health care coverage. We need national health reform in order to get all Americans covered in a cost-effective way.”
-U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging

“The surge in applications for Badger Care underscores the need for meaningful health care reform, including the kind of strong public option that will ensure thousands of Wisconsin families and businesses will have access to affordable coverage.”
-U.S. Senator Russ Feingold

“We’re lucky to have BadgerCare and BadgerCare Plus here in Wisconsin, but others aren’t so lucky. The overwhelming demand we’re seeing is one more reason why we need healthcare reform that will bring affordable, quality coverage to all Americans. With demand so high, we can’t afford not to act now!”
-Congressman Dave Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Dean of the Congressional Delegation (WI-07)

“Hard-working Wisconsinites have been doubly hurt by our economic woes -- losing jobs and wages while facing the ever-rising cost of health insurance," said). "The overwhelming response to BadgerCare Plus is a lesson for the entire country; we need meaningful healthcare reform now. Wisconsin has led the way in caring for its citizens, but one state cannot do it alone. We must ensure that no man or woman has to worry what will happen if he or she gets sick. We must pass national health care reform that ensures quality, affordable coverage for all.”
-Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (WI-02)

“The current situation in Wisconsin goes to show the immediate need for health care reform. We must reform our system so that everyone has access to affordable, stable coverage no matter their age, income or occupation, and especially when they get sick or lose their job. Badger Care is a great program that helps thousands of people who need it, but we can’t solve the health care crisis in Wisconsin and across the country without national reform.”
-Congressman Ron Kind (WI-03)

“Since the advent of BadgerCare Plus, Governor Doyle has taken admirable steps to ensure that vulnerable kids and childless adults have access to health insurance, but today we’re seeing the limitations of state action alone. 60,000 uninsured Wisconsinites have applied for BadgerCare coverage in under 100 days, and now because of the cap they’re going to be forced to wait yet again to get the coverage they need for a checkup, for a mammogram, for medication for the flu -- the list of needs goes on and on. Let those 60,000 people be a lesson to anyone who says national health reform can wait.”
-Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)

"This is further evidence that the health care system in this country is unsustainable and badly in need of reform. I am working hard to get the job done in Washington, knowing that the health of our economy and our families depends upon securing guaranteed access to affordable care for all of us."
-Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. (WI-08)

Source: Wisconsin Governor