Wisconsin’s ‘Slowing Economy’ Drives BadgerCare Enrollment Increase

Enrollment in Wisconsin's BadgerCare program, which offers health insurance to Medicaid-ineligible families with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level, has reached a "record high" level, in part due to the state's "slowing economy," the AP/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Last month, enrollment reached 90,592, an 18% increase from the 76,515 enrolled in October 2000. According to data from the state Department of Health and Family Services, enrollment has increased an average of 1,670 per month from June to October. Susan Wood, director of health care eligibility for DHFS, said the program is "on pace" to meet enrollment estimates of 93,716 by June 30, 2003. However, "economic fallout" from the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon could increase BadgerCare's caseload, department spokesperson Jim Malone said. The AP/Sentinel notes that some of the first information laid-off workers receive is about BadgerCare, meaning that with jobless claims "skyrocketing," many could turn to the program (AP/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/7).