On June 16, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a brief examining Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus Program, an initiative that combined the state's three distinct Medicaid programs for children, parents, and pregnant women into one program.  The brief examines how the program expanded coverage and the lessons that can be drawn from the program's experiences for use in implementing national health care reform.  KFF suggests that the program serves as an example of how Medicaid can act as a platform for health reform.

From the report: BadgerCare Plus builds on a solid foundation of employer-sponsored health care and Medicaid coverage in the state. In 2008, 68% of the non-elderly population had coverage through an employer, compared to 60% nationwide. Prior to the implementation of BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid eligibility levels in Wisconsin were 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL) (the poverty level was $22,050 for a family of four in 2009) for children, pregnant women, and parents. While coverage levels for children lagged behind many other states, Wisconsin provided broader coverage for low-income parents. Wisconsin also has a relatively low uninsured rate; approximately 10% of the nonelderly population is uninsured. Wisconsin’s goal is to ensure that at least 98% of the population has access to affordable health coverage.

Full report: Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus Program (PDF |446KB)

Kaiser Family Foundation.  (2010).  Wisconsin's BadgerCare plus program: moving forward on health reform amid a recession.