25.1 Application

Anyone has the right to apply for BadgerCare Plus; however, people younger than 18 years old must have a parent, caretaker relative, or a legal guardian apply for BadgerCare Plus on their behalf unless they are living independently. In situations where a legal guardian, parent, or caretaker is absent, an adult acting responsibly may apply on behalf of a person who is younger than 18 years old. Individuals younger than 18 years of age have the right to apply for Family Planning Only Services on their own behalf even if not living independently.

The applicantA request for BadgerCare Plus coverage. The request must be on the Department's or Federally-facilitated Marketplace’s application, registration form or account transfer (from Federally-facilitated Marketplace) and must contain name, address, and a valid signature. The applicant must submit a signed and completed application form to complete the application process. may be assisted by any person they choose in completing an applicationA request for BadgerCare Plus coverage. The request must be on the Department's application or registration form and must contain name, address, and a valid signature. The applicant must submit a signed and completed application form to complete the application process..

Anyone who expresses interest in applying should be encouraged to file an application as soon as possible (see Section 25.2 Application Methods).

The income maintenance (IM) agency must provide the following documents at application or a new request for health care on an existing case:

Notice of Assignment: Child Support, Family Support, Maintenance and Medical Support form (DWSP-2477) must be provided to all applicants.
Child Support Cooperation & Good Cause notice (DCF-P-5600) must be provided to all applicants with children applying for health care who have an absent parent. The IM agency must also provide this notice to the member in situations where a parent leaves the home resulting in a child on the case now having an absent parent.

Exception: The IM agency does not need to provide these documents to applicants who apply via ACCESS, since this information is included in the ACCESS application.

The IM agency must also provide these documents to anyone who requests them.

People open for non-health care program(s) who want to enroll in a health care program must sign an application or program request for health care. If they or someone else in the household is already open for a health care program, they can request another health care program without a new application or new signature.

Example 1:

Tim and Carrie are married. When Tim applies for health care, he indicates that he is requesting health care for himself, but Carrie is not requesting health care. Tim is determined eligible for BadgerCare Plus. Four months later, Carrie decides that she would also like to apply for health care. Carrie does not need to submit a new application or new signature. She can contact the IM agency to request health care.

Note:

An application can be filed on behalf of a deceased person. If the application is filed within the same calendar month as the date of death or within the three months after the date of death, the application should be processed as if the applicant were alive. If the application is filed more than four months after the date of death, the application must be denied.

This page last updated in Release Number: 23-03
Release Date: 08/14/2023
Effective Date: 08/14/2023

The information concerning the BadgerCare Plus program provided in this handbook release is published in accordance with: Titles XI, XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act; Parts 430 through 481 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations; Chapter 49 of the Wisconsin Statutes; and Chapters HA 3, DHS 2 and 101 through 109 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS). This site will link to sites outside of DHS where appropriate. DHS is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DHS.

Publication Number: P-10171