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Wisconsinites Need Medicaid Expansion NOW!

Wisconsin stands out as one of just ten states—and the only one in the Midwest—that has yet to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. As a result, Wisconsinites miss out on benefits available to residents in 40 other states and Washington, D.C. Expanding BadgerCare would provide coverage to approximately 89,700 additional people and save $1.6 billion between 2023 and 2025 through increased federal funding.

Medicaid Expansion Saves Lives

Data show that Medicaid Expansion saved the lives of at least 19,200 adults aged 55 to 64 nationwide between 2014 and 2017. Conversely, states that have not expanded Medicaid saw 15,600 premature deaths among older adults. Despite these concerning statistics, Republican legislators like Assembly Speaker Robin Vos have continued to block efforts to close this coverage gap.

Expanding BadgerCare would empower Wisconsinites to manage their health more effectively by improving access to services such as preventive care, medications, chronic disease management, and behavioral health support. Studies in states with expanded Medicaid programs have shown significant increases in coverage, particularly among low-income families and vulnerable populations. For example, research in Ohio indicates that Medicaid Expansion helps those without other affordable options and improves financial stability by making essential expenses like food, housing, and debt repayment more manageable.

In May 2021, Governor Tony Evers called a special session urging the Wisconsin Legislature to vote for expanding BadgerCare. Unfortunately, this session was swiftly adjourned due to opposition from Republicans who are against the expansion.

Two years later, Governor Evers included BadgerCare Expansion in his biennial budget proposal for fiscal years 2023-2025. His plan also sought to leverage additional federal matching funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which incentivizes states to adopt the expansion. Despite this, in May 2023, the Joint Finance Committee of the Wisconsin Legislature removed BadgerCare Expansion funding from the budget proposal.

Since taking office in 2019, Governor Evers has consistently proposed BadgerCare Expansion through various budgets and legislative efforts. Each time, Republican lawmakers have blocked these proposals. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has been particularly vocal in his opposition, declaring, “As long as I am the assembly speaker, Medicaid Expansion will never happen.”

Despite these setbacks, advocates for BadgerCare Expansion, including Senators Diane Hesselbein and LaTonya Johnson, and Representatives Daniel Reimer and Kristina Shelton, introduced the Healthy Wisconsin Plan in 2023. Unfortunately, this legislation, like previous efforts, did not advance in the Republican-controlled legislature.

Following a lengthy legal dispute, the Wisconsin Legislature passed new legislative maps drawn by Governor Tony Evers in February 2024, set to take effect in the November elections. This redistricting, coupled with retirements, has opened nearly 60 Assembly seats in the 2024 election cycle. This shift presents a promising opportunity for pro-expansion leaders to gain a majority, raising hopes that Medicaid Expansion could become a reality in the near future.