Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Expands its Medicaid Offerings to 24 Additional Wisconsin Counties

Managed Care Weekly Digest

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Managed Care Weekly Digest -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin (Anthem) announced that it has received approval from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to expanded its Medicaid service offerings for BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to 24 additional counties in the state. Effective February 1, 2017, Wisconsinites living in Adams, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Douglas, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, La Fayette, Lincoln, Marathon, Monroe, Pierce, Richland, Sauk, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon and Washburn counties will have access to Anthem offerings (see also Medicare and Medicaid).

"One of our top priorities at Anthem is to ensure our members have access to high-quality health care services," said Leon Lamoreaux, Anthem Medicaid plan president in Wisconsin. "We're thrilled to be expanding our services into these 24 additional counties and we look forward to continuing our work with the State of Wisconsin to make a positive impact in the health and lives of area residents.

As part of this expansion, people living in these 24 additional counties will now have access to Anthem's services. The expansion will be available to parents and caretakers of children under 18 years of age or dependent 18 year olds at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), pregnant women at or below 300 percent of the FPL, children (ages 18 and younger) with household incomes at or below 300 percent of the FPL, childless adults at or below 100 percent of the FPL and transitional medical assistance individuals, with incomes over 100 percent of the FPL.

BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid SSI members who are eligible for managed care may select the health insurance company that they want to administer their benefits, such as Anthem. Individuals who do not make a selection are auto-assigned to a benefits administrator by DHS.

With this expansion, Anthem now serves BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid SSI members in nearly 60 Wisconsin counties. About Anthem BlueCross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin Anthem serves approximately 86,000 BadgerCare Plus members. Anthem administers BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid SSI benefits on behalf of DHS. BadgerCare Plus is a health care coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents. Anthem is one of 18 health insurance companies in Wisconsin administering BadgerCare Plus benefits.

Medicaid SSI is a government program that provides stipends to low-income people who are age 65 or older, blind or disabled. These individuals automatically qualify for Medicaid coverage. Anthem is one of 10 health insurance companies in Wisconsin administering Medicaid SSI benefits.

For more information on Anthem's Wisconsin Medicaid programs, please visit www.anthem.com/wimedicaid. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170202005046/en/

Keywords for this news article include: Health Policy, Health Insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, Anthem BlueCross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin.