Wisconsin Medicaid Changes Spark Coverage Concerns

New law introduces work requirements, impacting access and premiums.

A new law in Wisconsin, including Medicaid funding cuts and stricter enrollment rules, may cause tens of thousands to lose healthcare coverage. Experts worry about access barriers and increased costs for many residents.

Tougher Requirements for Medicaid Enrollees

According to **Donna Friedsam**, distinguished researcher emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medicaid serves 1 in 5 Wisconsin residents, covering significant portions of births, children, and people in long-term care. Changes will require “able-bodied adults” aged 19-64 without young children to document at least 80 hours monthly of work, training, or schooling.

These new rules also mandate re-enrollment and eligibility verification every six months.

Bureaucratic Hurdles and Potential Coverage Loss

**Friedsam** raised concerns that these bureaucratic demands could prevent eligible individuals from receiving coverage. She noted that similar requirements in other states led to eligible people losing coverage due to paperwork issues.

“About 40 percent of all births in Wisconsin and 40 percent of children are covered by Medicaid, and 60 percent of people in nursing homes on long-term care, or elderly and disabled people,”

—Donna Friedsam, Distinguished Researcher Emerita

Limited Impact on Undocumented Immigrants

While some claim the changes will prevent undocumented immigrants from using Medicaid, **Friedsam** clarified that they are already ineligible, except for emergency labor and delivery coverage. Legal immigrants and refugees, however, face new restrictions under the bill.

Affordable Care Act Changes and Premium Increases

Changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will eliminate automatic re-enrollment, affecting about a third of the 300,000 Wisconsin residents in the marketplace. People will need to reapply every year to maintain coverage. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, enhanced premium tax credits are expiring, which may lead to premium increases up to 75 percent.

Rural Hospitals Face Financial Strain

The financial stability of rural hospitals is a concern. Although the state budget included additional federal matching dollars for Medicaid, about 30,000 people in rural Wisconsin may lose Medicaid coverage, further stressing these hospitals.