Dem candidates for Wisconsin governor back Badgercare for all bill to expand Medicaid health plan
I certainly am all for this.
Dem candidates for Wisconsin governor back Badgercare for all bill to expand Medicaid health plan
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/politics/elections/2017/10/27/dem-candidates-wisconsin-governor-back-badgercare-all-bill-expand-medicaid-health-plan/785047001/
Jason Stein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 9:33 a.m. CT Oct. 27, 2017 | Updated 10:25 a.m. CT Oct. 27, 2017
(Photo: handout from campaigns)
MADISON - Democratic candidates for governor are coalescing around a plan to let anyone — regardless of income — buy into a state health program currently reserved for the most needy.
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A spokesman for Walker, who will face the winner of the Democratic primary, had no comment on the proposal. But Walker has battled with Democrats over other BadgerCare expansions for nearly seven years, and this latest proposal seems certain to widen divisions over one of the state's largest programs.
A Medicaid health program for state residents, BadgerCare receives about 40% of its funding from state taxpayers and the rest from federal taxpayers. The program is currently limited to people making less than the federal poverty limit, which is $20,420 for a family of three.
Under the proposal, the state would ask the federal government for permission to allow people making more than that to buy the coverage by paying the state's cost. That currently amounts to about $7,200 a year for an adult and $3,000 for a child, according to the group Citizen Action of Wisconsin, which backs the concept.
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Genrich's measure, Assembly Bill 449, has the backing of the two Democratic candidates for governor in the Legislature, Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire) and Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma).
"I think it's a good idea," Wachs said. "If the federal government isn't going to work with the Affordable Care Act, we're going to start looking at how to protect it ourselves."
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Glad to see the Dem candidates are getting on board with this.
