Covering Wisconsin in the News
Here’s what BadgerCare Plus recipients need to know to keep their benefits
After March 31, those who receive BadgerCare Plus will have to return to the pre-pandemic process of reapplying and being re-evaluated for coverage.
Local health care professionals want them to be prepared. BadgerCare Plus serves people who need health care coverage but who may not qualify for Medicaid.
Because of federal legislation that went into effect in March 2020, those who have received BadgerCare Plus benefits have been able to keep those benefits without having to go through the renewal process as was required every 12 months before that time, said Caroline Gómez-Tom, enrollment network and accessibility manager for Covering Wisconsin.
As COVID-19 emergencies end, Wisconsin prepares for Medicaid upheaval
With federal COVID-19 emergencies ending in May, Wisconsin health officials and advocates are preparing for upheaval in the state’s main Medicaid program, which has grown 49% since the pandemic started but is expected to lose more than 300,000 people after extended coverage ends.
Many of the people likely to be kicked off Medicaid over the coming year should be able to get insurance through their jobs, on the federal marketplace or by aging into Medicare, experts say. But the end of boosted Medicaid coverage nationwide, starting in April, could mean 49,000 newly uninsured people in the state by June 2024, a report says.
“It’s going to be difficult,” said Brynne McBride, chief operating officer for ABC for Health, a Madison-based nonprofit law firm that helps people obtain health care. “How successful are states going to be at actually doing this transition?”
Healthcare.gov enrollment breaks record in U.S., increases in Wisconsin
For all of her adult life, the federal Affordable Care Act has made a big difference for Katerina Klawes.
“I have never had a traditional job that has offered health care benefits,” says Klawes, who lives in Milwaukee. She’s mostly been self-employed as an independent contractor for small nonprofit and education organizations.
She also has multiple disabilities, including being hard of hearing, that once would have subjected her to a lifetime limit on her insurance coverage — if she could get insurance at all instead of being denied coverage or charged exorbitant premiums because of her preexisting health conditions.
Thanks to the ACA, she was covered by her parents’ health insurance until she turned 26 five years ago. Since then, she’s been able to buy health insurance on Healthcare.gov, the federal health insurance exchange that the ACA created.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Adam VanSpankeren, manager of the Covering Wisconsin navigator program
This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Adam VanSpankeren, the manager of the Covering Wisconsin navigator program.
He discusses the ongoing open enrollment period for Healthcare.gov plans, which began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15.
Covering Wisconsin is a nonprofit group affiliated with the UW-Madison Division of Extension that has provided navigator services since 2014. Navigators provide free assistance to help people get connected with health insurance, VanSpankeren explained.
Confused about health insurance during open enrollment? A navigator can help.
Health insurance can be confusing.
Meet Quentella Perry, who helps people plow through the complexities while working for Covering Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that educates people about health insurance and helps them choose a plan.
Just as accountants are busy during tax time, Perry and her colleagues have their hands full helping people navigate the choices offered during the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period.
Officials spotlight next week’s ACA deadline
Officials urged Wisconsinites to take advantage of Wisconsin’s open enrollment period by applying for health care through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace by Dec. 15 to ensure coverage starts Jan. 1, 2023.
The enrollment period is the annual opportunity for families, individuals and small businesses to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace — the online platform established by the ACA where plans meet certain minimum requirements of coverage.
Protect Our Care: HHS regional administrator, Milwaukee County Executive Crowley, and advocates join protect our care Wisconsin to discuss affordable health care options ahead of open enrollment
MILWAUKEE, WI — Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director Joseph Palm, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley joined advocates and Protect Our Care Wisconsin to discuss the upcoming ACA Open Enrollment 2023 period, which opened on November 1, 2022 and provided Wisconsinites with the resources they need to enroll in quality, affordable coverage.
December 15 Deadline for Health Insurance Coverage to Start January 1, 2023
MILWAUKEE– There is one week left for consumers to sign up for Healthcare.gov Marketplace insurance coverage to get a full year of benefits starting January 1, 2023. While December 15 is the deadline for consumers to sign up for coverage with a January 1 start date, the Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment season runs until January 15.
Open enrollment begins for individual health insurance
It all begins with an idea.
MILWAUKEE —
Open enrollment began nationwide for taxpayer-subsidized private insurance coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act.
In Milwaukee, state and local health officials gathered to kick off the next few months as they try to make the process easier. Wisconsin’s top health official taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to close the information gap.
"Folks who are uninsured can work with a navigator or can go on Healthcare.gov to do their own research and look at options, and even folks who are already enrolled in a health insurance option today may wish to see if there is a more affordable option to them that's important to do now," Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-Designee Karen Timberlake said.
November 1st, 2022
WISN.com
Lawmakers and government officials highlight open enrollment, encourage people to vote
It all begins with an idea.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin along with other lawmakers and government officials spent Halloween day encouraging Wisconsinites to take advantage of the health insurance open enrollment period and touting Democrats’ recent health care accomplishments.
“Halloween is a celebration of scary things, and what’s most scary to me is people who don’t have health insurance,” Baldwin said at a morning event at Sauk Trails Clinic.
The open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, 2023, is a once-a-year opportunity for families, individuals and small businesses to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace — the online platform established by the ACA where all plans listed meet certain minimum requirements of coverage.
November 1st, 2022
Wisconsin Examiner
Thousands could lose health care when the federal public health emergency expires
It all begins with an idea.
DHS has provided additional funding to help with the endeavor to Covering Wisconsin, a nonprofit licensed health care navigator with resources across the state to help with enrolling for health insurance on the federal exchange. During the renewal process, people who learn they no longer qualify for BadgerCare would be referred to Covering Wisconsin.
“Whenever there’s a transition point like this where people need to go through the renewal process, even just during normal times, that is just a challenging process to go through,” says Courtney Harris, outreach and partner relations manager at Covering Wisconsin. “And so just making sure that people complete the renewal or their new application is a big lift in and of itself.”
June 16th, 2022
Wisconsin Examiner
Over 212,000 Wisconsinites Enroll in Health Coverage on Healthcare.gov
It all begins with an idea.
Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that during the recent Open Enrollment Period (OEP) 212,209 Wisconsinites signed up for health insurance on Healthcare.gov. This is Wisconsin's highest enrollment since the 2018 OEP.
“Ensuring every Wisconsinite has access to quality, affordable health care is more important than ever, and it's exciting to see thousands of Wisconsinites find health care coverage on Healthcare.gov," said Governor Tony Evers.
January 31st, 2022
oci.wi.gov
Enrollment is now open for insurance plans provided by the Affordable Care Act. Here are some places where you can get free assistance in Milwaukee.
It all begins with an idea.
The federal marketplace’s open enrollment period has started, meaning people can sign up for health insurance plans provided by the Affordable Care Act.
The enrollment period lasts from now through Jan. 15. This is an extension for the enrollment, which usually lasts until Dec. 15. Those who want to get an insurance plan that goes into effect on Jan. 1 will still want to enroll by Dec. 15, however.
November 9th, 2021
milwaukeenns.org
Enrollment is now open for insurance plans provided by the Affordable Care Act. Here are some places where you can get free assistance in Milwaukee. – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
It all begins with an idea.
The federal market open registration period has begun. This means that people can sign up for health insurance plans offered by the Affordable Care Act.
The registration period is from now until January 15th. This is an extension of registration and usually lasts until December 15th. Those who want to get an insurance plan that goes into effect on January 1st will want to register by December...
November 9th, 2021
eminetra.com
Lower rates, more choice for Wisconsinites ahead of open enrollment
It all begins with an idea.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable recently announced reduced health insurance rates and more health plan options for consumers getting enrolled on the Marketplace for 2022.
This fall, residents in every county in Wisconsin will have the opportunity to choose from more than one health plan option on HealthCare.gov, with most counties covered by at least three different carriers. Open enrollment – the annual period in which people can enroll in a health insurance plan on the individual market – will begin on Nov. 1 and continue through Jan. 15, 2022…
October 18th, 2021
hngnews.com
Biden-Harris Administration Quadruples the Number of Health Care Navigators Ahead of HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment Period (August 27, 2021)
It all begins with an idea.
The Biden-Harris Administration is expanding the number of Navigator organizations to help people enroll in coverage through the Marketplace, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 30 states with a Federally-Facilitated Marketplace. Through $80 million in grant awards for the 2022 plan year, 60 Navigator awardee organizations will be able to train and certify more than 1,500 Navigators to help uninsured consumers find affordable and comprehensive health coverage…
August 27th, 2021
CMS.gov
HealthCare.gov Special Sign-Up Period Starts Monday (2/15/21)
It all begins with an idea.
Monday marks the start of a special sign-up period for medical insurance purchased on HealthCare.gov in Wisconsin and 35 other states.
Normally the enrollment period happens at the end of the year, but the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in people not only losing their jobs, but the health coverage that can come with it.
Although the pandemic is entering its second year, this is the first time the federal health insurance marketplace has held a special enrollment period. It was authorized when President Joe Biden signed an executive order opening up the marketplace from Monday to May 15…
February 15th, 2021
Wisconsin Public Radio
Enrollment now open for Affordable Care Act plans
It all begins with an idea.
The number of people who signed up for health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has decreased in Brown County, but officials urge people looking for coverage to take advantage during open enrollment...
November 16, 2020
gopresstimes.com
Workers Who Lost Jobs Due to COVID May Need Help Getting Coverage This Fall
It all begins with an idea.
Michelina Moen lost her job and health insurance in April. Only weeks earlier she had begun to feel ill and not her usual energetic self — in what she describes as a textbook case of “really bad timing.”...
November 11, 2020
KHN
WI Families Aren't Seeking Public Insurance Aid During Crisis
It all begins with an idea.
At Covering Wisconsin, navigator program manager Adam Van Spankeren says his organization's phone hasn't been ringing off the hook for enrollment help for the state's Medicaid program or insurance marketplace -- perhaps because people don't know they're eligible...
June 19, 2020
publicnewsservice.org