How to apply Wisconsin · BadgerCare Plus

How to apply for Medicaid in Wisconsin

The number

Apply online at access.wi.gov.

Primary source: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/badgercareplus/index.htm

Apply for BadgerCare Plus

Ways to apply for BadgerCare Plus

These are the channels Wisconsin names on its own Medicaid pages. Use whichever is easiest.

Online: Apply online
access.wi.gov
In person: Local county or Tribal agency during office hours. Find an office
By mail: Get the paper application
HealthCare.gov: You can also apply at HealthCare.gov any time of year. If anyone in your household looks eligible for Medicaid, it sends your information to Wisconsin's agency.
Decision time: Federal rules give the state up to 45 days to decide, or 90 days if you apply based on a disability (42 CFR 435.912).

Read on the state's own pages, October 13, 2026.

Documents you'll need

Photo ID (state-issued ID or passport)
Social Security number for every household member applying
Proof of income for the last 30 days (pay stubs, tax return, benefit letter)
Proof of US citizenship or lawful presence
Proof of address (utility bill, lease, or official mail)
For pregnancy: a clinician-signed pregnancy verification
For disability category: medical records if applying disability-based

How to apply in Wisconsin

Use any of the ways to apply listed above. They are the channels BadgerCare Plus names on its own pages, read on October 13, 2026.

Documents you'll need: proof of identity (state ID or passport), Social Security numbers for everyone applying, proof of income for the last 30 days (pay stubs, tax return, unemployment award letter), proof of US citizenship or lawful presence, proof of address (utility bill, lease, piece of official mail), and for pregnancy-related Medicaid, a pregnancy verification letter from a clinician. If you do not have every document, apply anyway and send the rest when the agency asks.

Language support: every state Medicaid program must offer interpretation and translation at no cost under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Ask for an interpreter when you call or, for written translations, request them in writing. If the state denies reasonable language access, you can file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights.

How long a decision takes: federal rule 42 CFR 435.912 says the determination may not exceed 45 days for most applicants and 90 days for people who apply on the basis of disability (eCFR). Wisconsin covers childless adults up to 100% of the federal poverty line through BadgerCare Plus Core, the only non-expansion state with a direct adult benefit, but has declined the ACA's enhanced match. Wisconsin also has not adopted the federal 12-month postpartum option; coverage still ends at 60 days. ABC for Health and Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health have pushed for both changes.

For Black families

Community enrollment navigators serving Black families in Wisconsin are the most reliable route if you want someone to sit with you through the application. Federally Qualified Health Centers have certified application counselors on staff and cannot turn you away for inability to pay. Wisconsin covers childless adults up to 100% of the federal poverty line through BadgerCare Plus Core, the only non-expansion state with a direct adult benefit, but has declined the ACA's enhanced match. Wisconsin also has not adopted the federal 12-month postpartum option; coverage still ends at 60 days. ABC for Health and Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health have pushed for both changes.

Where to get help in Wisconsin

Federally Qualified Health Centers in Wisconsin: every FQHC accepts Medicaid, charges on a sliding scale for the uninsured, and has certified application counselors who can help you apply or renew. See our FQHC directory for this state at /clinics/wi/.
Medicaid-accepting providers in Wisconsin: our provider directory lets you filter to providers in this state. See /providers/wi/.
State health profile for Wisconsin: for state-level health outcomes context (maternal mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, uninsured rate) by race, see /health/wisconsin/.
Find a Navigator: federally funded Navigators help with Medicaid + ACA marketplace applications and are free. Find one via localhelp.healthcare.gov.

References & primary sources

BadgerCare Plus, state Medicaid portal: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/badgercareplus/.
KFF State Health Facts: kff.org/statedata. Medicaid income eligibility + enrollment.
Medicaid.gov: medicaid.gov. Federal program guidance + state plan amendments.

Data refreshed: October 13, 2026

More Wisconsin Medicaid facets

Eligibility Doula coverage Postpartum extension Pregnant women Renewal

Back to Wisconsin Medicaid overview

If you have Medicaid, the coverage on this page is the route to use first: it costs you nothing and it is what these programs exist for. If you are not covered yet, there is still a free option. Our directory of free and charitable clinics lists centers by state. The option below is self-pay and is not billed to Medicaid. It is here for readers who are between coverage or who prefer to pay out of pocket: