MADISON, WISCONSIN — State legislators from both sides of the aisle say a big cash infusion to shore up the BadgerCare program is a priority for the new session.
Both the majority Republicans in the Assembly and the Democrats who control the Senate expect to agree on a bill that would pump an estimated $14.4 million into the program.
BadgerCare provides health insurance for low-income residents. It has proved more popular than expected.
Previous funding for BadgerCare projected an enrollment of 67,500 by July. But the program has 74,521 people and could have 81,700 by July, said Joe Leann, secretary of the state Department of Health and Family Services.
Despite the cost, many legislators agree on the importance of BadgerCare’s mission to provide health insurance to uninsured children and adults, filling the service gap for those who aren’t poor enough to qualify for federal Medicaid coverage but cannot afford private insurance.
