About 60,000 Wisconsin adults could lose BadgerCare Plus coverage when new Medicaid work requirements begin in 2027 for childless enrollees under 65.
Nearly 200,000 childless adults will be subject to the rules, which require 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, schooling or a work program, or at least $580 in monthly income.
Jan. 1, 2027 marks the start for new applicants, while current enrollees face the requirement at renewals beginning in March 2027; the state will start sending notices in coming weeks.
Pregnant people, some caregivers, medically frail members, certain veterans, tribal members and others can be exempt, but Wisconsin and other states are still challenging a federal standard requiring proof that some conditions significantly impair work.
The mandate stems from Trump's 2025 domestic policy law that cut federal health spending, and Wisconsin officials are still awaiting federal guidance on what documents will prove volunteer hours, schooling and some exemptions.
With 60,000 Wisconsinites facing immediate Medicaid loss in early 2027, how will pending federal rules define acceptable proof of work?
Could narrow medical frailty exemptions cause thousands with invisible illnesses to unexpectedly lose their BadgerCare Plus coverage next year?
Will automated medical billing codes successfully protect vulnerable patients from losing healthcare, or will administrative hurdles leave thousands uninsured?