BadgerCare Plus: Income Limits, Eligibility and How to Apply
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BadgerCare Plus is Wisconsin's Medicaid program, and it is run by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Wisconsin has not adopted the full expansion; instead, adults without children are covered up to 100% of poverty under a waiver, but Wisconsin has not adopted the ACA expansion to 138%. Children are covered through BadgerCare Plus, and the application is at access.wi.gov or 800-362-3002. Every figure below is dated 2026-09-23.
| Program | BadgerCare Plus |
|---|---|
| Children | BadgerCare Plus (CHIP inside) |
| Agency | Wisconsin Department of Health Services |
| Apply | access.wi.gov · 800-362-3002 |
| Expansion | Partial |
Who qualifies in Wisconsin
Without the expansion, Wisconsin Medicaid covers the groups federal law has always required and the ones the state has chosen to add: children under 19 (through BadgerCare Plus and BadgerCare Plus), pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives at low incomes set by the state, people 65 and over, and people with disabilities, the last two with an asset test. The partial route for other adults is adults without children are covered up to 100% of poverty under a waiver, but Wisconsin has not adopted the ACA expansion to 138%.
That gap has a floor and a ceiling. Marketplace plans with premium tax credits begin at 100% of the poverty guideline, $15,960 a year for one person and $33,000 for four in 2026, and at that level the premium for a benchmark plan is close to zero. Below it, in Wisconsin, an adult without children has neither Medicaid nor a subsidy. Health centers on a sliding fee and hospital financial assistance policies are the fallback; our emergency help page lists both.
| Household size | 100% of poverty, 2026 (marketplace subsidy floor) | 138% (what expansion would cover) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $53,378 |
How Wisconsin compares
Wisconsin is one of two states, with Georgia, that cover some adults without the full expansion. Because there is no expansion group, the 2027 work requirement and six-month renewals largely pass it by. The program's own name, BadgerCare Plus, is what appears on cards and letters; "Medicaid" may not appear at all, which confuses people who move here.
How to apply for BadgerCare Plus
- Apply online at access.wi.gov, or call 800-362-3002. HealthCare.gov also takes Medicaid applications and forwards them to Wisconsin. There is no enrollment period; any day works.
- Report this month's income.
A BadgerCare Plus case also qualifies you for a free phone (Wisconsin carriers, paperwork) and shares documents with Wisconsin SNAP.
What changes in Wisconsin
With no expansion group, the work requirement and six-month renewals in the 2025 law do not reach Wisconsin. The nationwide changes are on the hub with CMS sources.
Wisconsin specifics
- Wisconsin is the only non-expansion state with no coverage gap: childless adults qualify up to 100% of poverty, and the marketplace takes over from there.
- Offices serve Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and every county; hospitals and health centers also employ enrollment assisters.
Whether BadgerCare Plus pays for dental or weight-loss drugs is Wisconsin's choice; see does Medicaid cover.
Common questions
What is the Medicaid income limit in Wisconsin for 2026?
There is no single limit, because Wisconsin has not adopted the expansion. Children qualify through BadgerCare Plus and BadgerCare Plus at incomes well above poverty, pregnant women at higher incomes still, and parents only at very low incomes set by the state. Adults without dependent children who are not disabled or over 65 generally cannot qualify at any income, except through adults without children are covered up to 100% of poverty under a waiver, but Wisconsin has not adopted the ACA expansion to 138%. Above the state's limits, marketplace plans with premium tax credits start at 100% of poverty, $15,960 a year for one person.
Does Wisconsin have a Medicaid work requirement?
No. The federal work requirement applies only to the expansion group, and Wisconsin has none.
Sources
- BadgerCare Plus: state program page
- HHS: 2026 poverty guidelines
- HealthCare.gov: Medicaid expansion and you (138%)
- Federal Register: community engagement interim final rule (June 3, 2026)
- CMS: 2025 law section-by-section overview
Gov-Grants.org is an independent guide, not a carrier and not a government agency. We never charge fees, and every fact above links to its source with the date we checked it. Program details change; confirm on the official site before applying.