Press Releases

Health Insurance Marketplace offers new Special Enrollment Period for previous BadgerCare enrollees

Health Insurance Marketplace offers new Special Enrollment Period for previous BadgerCare enrollees

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said today that thousands of former BadgerCare beneficiaries have the opportunity to enroll in private health insurance through the Marketplace after Wisconsin changed its Medicaid eligibility earlier this year.

“We are working to ensure people affected by the State’s change in Medicaid have the opportunity to enroll in Marketplace coverage,” said CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. “Coverage options are now available to the limited number of people who are no longer eligible for BadgerCare, after the State made changes to its Medicaid program earlier this year.”

Outside of major life changes, people generally enroll in Marketplace coverage during the annual open enrollment period. However, because of unique circumstances, CMS is clarifying that a special enrollment period applies to those individuals in Wisconsin who lost coverage because of the state’s decision to change eligibility for its Medicaid program, BadgerCare on April 1, 2014.

Individuals eligible for this special enrollment period will be able to apply for Marketplace coverage immediately and will have 60 days to do so. Eligible individuals should contact our federal call center at 1-800-318-2596 to apply. Individuals wishing to apply for coverage need to act by Nov. 2, 2014.

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