Should we be able to buy BadgerCare? Wisconsin residents could buy BadgerCare insurance under proposals

Whether it's in the halls of the state Capitol or on the campaign trail for governor, Wisconsin Democrats are pushing for an expansion of public health insurance options.

Three major Democratic contenders in the governor's race have rolled out their own plans to ease barriers to coverage and Democrats in the Assembly and Senate this month introduced legislation to create an option for the public to buy plans in the state's Medicaid program, called BadgerCare.

"When it comes to helping folks in Wisconsin gain access to health care, we can do more," said Rep. Tara Johnson, D-town of Shelby, who is the proposal's lead author.

Currently, BadgerCare provides health insurance to cover children in low-income households as well as their parents or caregivers, and BadgerCare Plus offers insurance to childless adults whose income is at or below the federal poverty limit, which is about $1,330 a month for a single person.

The proposed bill introduced this month would create a public BadgerCare option for those under twice the federal poverty limit to receive coverage through the state's Medicaid program. The legislation would also create a state-based health care exchange similar to that of the Affordable Care Act where those with higher incomes could buy more affordable health insurance plans.

"This bill also expands BadgerCare enrollment to businesses with less than 50 employees, meaning small businesses across Wisconsin will be able to offer affordable insurance to their employees without damaging their bottom line," Johnson said during a March 3 press conference.

A response to ACA crisis

This isn't the first time Wisconsin progressives have proposed a public buy-in option for BadgerCare. In 2023, Democrats in the Legislature proposed a similar bill.

This time, however, authors say they're looking down the barrel of skyrocketing health care premiums through the Affordable Care Act, which no longer carries a set of expanded subsidies that made monthly premiums affordable for about 22 million Americans in 2025.

As a result, about 20,000 Wisconsin residents did not enroll in marketplace health insurance plans this year.

That includes people like Indiana Hauser, a La Crosse-area resident with ongoing medical conditions resulting from a traumatic brain injury years ago. Hauser spoke at the press conference at the Capitol in support of the proposed legislation.

Hauser works two jobs, neither of which offers health insurance. But, she said, she also makes too much each year to qualify for BadgerCare, which only covers single Wisconsin residents who make less than $15,960 a year or families of three or more who make $33,000 or less.

"Last year, I enrolled in health insurance through the ACA for $12 a month," Hauser said. "This year, it went up to $400 a month for worse coverage."

For that reason, she had to withdraw from her insurance plan and now relies on medical care from more affordable community health centers, she said.

Backers of the bill don't have a clear price tag for it yet. They said costs will depend on what happens as the federal government rewrites insurance rules based on the passage of the federal spending reconciliation act President Donald Trump signed in July that dissolved expanded subsidies for ACA premiums.

The likelihood that this bill will move forward this session is slim because the Republican-controlled Assembly largely adjourned from regular business in February and will return only for matters of special interest or in an attempt to overturn a veto from the governor.

For that reason, Democrats will likely need to reintroduce this legislation at the start of next year's session.

"We know that this is something that Wisconsinites care about. They want us to stay here. They want us to get this done," said Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, D-Milwaukee. "The session doesn't have to be over. This bill could be sent to the Health Committee, it could be voted on, and it could be sent to both houses and passed into law. We don't need to go home yet."

Campaign promises

Establishing more affordable health care systems is a key campaign message for many candidates in the Democratic primary, and a few have rolled out plans for how they would implement new systems if elected.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, first to enter the Democratic race for governor last summer, announced a roadmap to "lower prices and guarantee affordable coverage for Wisconsinites."

Rodriguez's plan includes expanding BadgerCare eligibility and creating BadgerChoice, a public buy-in option, as well as a host of other policy proposals ranging from a medical bill of rights to a Rural Health Stabilization Fund to support hospitals in more sparsely populated parts of Wisconsin.

"As a nurse, I saw people delay care because they were worried about the bill," Rodriguez said in a written statement announcing her plan in early February. "As a working mom and caregiver for my father with Alzheimer's, I lived the stress of premiums, deductibles and surprise costs. And as governor, I will lead with a simple commitment: Health care in Wisconsin should be affordable, dependable and protected."

Ten days later, Madison Democratic Sen. Kelda Roys, who is also running for governor, rolled out her own plan called KeldaCare.

Roys' platform also includes allowing Wisconsin residents to buy into public health care plans, as well as codifying a right to birth control and a right to affordable infertility treatment, and capping prescription drug prices, among other proposals.

"KeldaCare will help small businesses start and grow, and compete for workers, and will help Wisconsin companies and municipalities of all sizes have a public option for health insurance coverage that is high-quality, comprehensive, nonprofit, and competitively priced. Covering more people and expanding the pool of insured people will lower costs for taxpayers and help keep rural clinics and hospitals open," Roys said.

Just over a week after that, Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, announced she was also launching a plan to "deliver better, fairer, cheaper health care in Wisconsin."

Hong's platform as a gubernatorial candidate also includes expanding BadgerCare and creating a public option, along with lowering prescription drug prices and requiring large hospitals to charge private health insurance companies the same as Medicaid to drive down premium costs.

"Wisconsin has some of the most expensive health care costs in the nation, and working families are struggling to keep up. It doesn't have to be this way," Hong wrote on her campaign Facebook page. "Health care is a human right, not a luxury. ... Nobody should have to delay care - or worse, ignore symptoms - because they're scared of the bill."

Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary election - which includes eight Democrats and two Republicans - is Aug. 11.

Erin McGroarty is the health and policy reporter for the Cap Times. Erin writes about Madison and Dane County's health care industry and workforce as well as government policies affecting public health and access to care. Email story ideas and tips to [email protected]. Please consider supporting Erin's work by becoming a Cap Times member or sponsor. Sustaining local journalism in Madison depends on readers like you.