Governor Doyle announces nearly 72,000 have signed up for BadgerCare Plus
MILWAUKEE – Governor Jim Doyle has announced that nearly 72,000 families and children have signed up for BadgerCare Plus since the program was first launched on Feb. 1, exceeding initial expectations. Governor Doyle made the announcement at a one-day BadgerCare Plus enrollment fair at Day Care Services for Children, Inc. in Milwaukee, one of 12 fairs held today in the county. BadgerCare Plus is Governor Doyle’s program that provides access to quality, affordable health insurance for working families.
“This is excellent news for Wisconsin. Health care should be a birthright, not a ticket to bankruptcy,” Governor Doyle said. “I am pleased to announce that close to 72,000 people have already signed up for quality and affordable health care through BadgerCare Plus.”
BadgerCare Plus offers health care coverage to every child in Wisconsin by streamlining Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Healthy Start into one comprehensive program. Low-income families will be able to enroll their children into BadgerCare Plus at no charge, while higher earning families will be able to buy into the program at a reasonable cost based upon income.
The state had initially hoped to enroll 26,000 individuals by June 30, 2009. On February 1, 42,000 families and children were automatically enrolled into the program. Since then, nearly 72,000 individuals have signed up, 45,000 of which are children.
All Wisconsin children and more pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives are now able to sign up for BadgerCare Plus. BadgerCare Plus not only increases Wisconsin residents’ access to preventive health care, but also simplifies and streamlines the rules for applying for the program. Families can go to www.BadgerCarePlus.org for more information or to apply for BadgerCare Plus.
—Office of the Governor
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