Wisconsin Medicaid Income Limits 2026: BadgerCare Plus

BadgerCare Plus is free to apply for and pays for health care; it isn't cash. Our national Medicaid income limits guide puts Wisconsin next to every other state.

BadgerCare Plus Income Limits by Household Size (February 2026 to January 2027)

BadgerCare Plus uses 3 income lines for most families: 100% of poverty for adults, 201% where children's premiums begin, and 306% for children and pregnant people. According to the DHS BadgerCare Plus income guidelines chart, a household of three can have up to $2,276.67 a month for the adults, $4,576.11 before a child owes a premium, and $6,966.61 for children or a pregnant member. Every amount is monthly pay before any taxes come out.

Source: Wisconsin DHS, BadgerCare Plus: Income Guidelines (opens in a new tab), "income limits and thresholds, effective February 1, 2026–January 31, 2027," matched line by line to Handbook Section 50.1 (opens in a new tab). The handbook also lists sizes 9 through 24.

Yearly equivalents

The adult column is the annual FPL figure printed in Section 50.1. Grantsights multiplied DHS's 306% monthly amounts by 12 and rounded to the dollar for the second column.

How the percentages are built. Section 16.1.1 of the handbook sets the limits at 100% for parents, caretakers and adults without children, and 306% for pregnant women, children under 19 and Family Planning Only Services. The 306% figure is a 300% limit plus a 5% disregard and a 1% conversion adjustment. For adults, DHS says the disregard is already folded into the 100% line, so there's nothing extra to add.

Seniors, disability and long-term care limits

People 65 and older, or who are blind or have a disability, apply under the EBD rules in the Medicaid Eligibility Handbook rather than the BadgerCare Plus chart.

Source: Wisconsin DHS, Medicaid Eligibility Handbook Section 39.4 (opens in a new tab), Release 26-03. The $1,086.16 figure is the $994 federal SSI payment plus Wisconsin's $92.16 state supplement, both listed in Section 39.4.7.

How Wisconsin Counts Income for BadgerCare Plus

BadgerCare Plus counts all taxable income plus Social Security under the federal MAGI rules, according to Section 16.1.2 of the BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook. That covers wages, net self-employment income, unemployment pay and Social Security benefits, measured before taxes. Pre-tax deductions for retirement or health premiums come off first. Child support received and SSI don't count.

Who's in your group. The household follows tax-filing relationships: you, a spouse, and anyone you claim or who claims you. A child's or tax dependent's income is counted only if they're expected to have to file a return. For 2026, DHS Operations Memo 25-23 sets those filing thresholds at $1,350 in taxable unearned income and $16,100 in earned income.

No asset test for most families. BadgerCare Plus has no limit on savings, cars or property for children, parents, pregnant people or adults without children. Assets only matter in the EBD, nursing home and Medicare savings programs above.

EBD counting is different. SSI-related Medicaid deducts some income and checks bank accounts, cash value life insurance and property against the $2,000 limit. A home is usually exempt while you or a spouse live in it, but long-term care applicants with more than $752,000 in home equity (the 2026 limit in Section 39.4.8) can be shut out.

For example, a family of three in Wisconsin earning $2,500 a month gross (one parent, a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old) runs specifically $223.33 over the $2,276.67 adult limit, so the parent can't get BadgerCare Plus. Both children qualify with no premium because $2,500 is far below the $4,576.11 premium line. The parent can buy a HealthCare.gov plan with a premium tax credit, since $30,000 a year is about 110% of poverty for three.

Wisconsin Medicaid Asset Limits

Wisconsin's EBD asset limit is $2,000 for one person and $3,000 for a couple, a figure the Medicaid Eligibility Handbook says has been in place since January 1, 1989 and isn't indexed. That's tight: a single checking account balance after a Social Security deposit can push someone over in a given month.

Long-term care adds spousal protections. When one spouse enters a nursing home or a community waiver program, the other spouse keeps a share of the couple's assets. According to Section 39.4.4 of the handbook, the 2026 community spouse asset share maximum is $162,660, and the at-home spouse can keep up to $4,066.50 a month in income through the spousal allocation. A nursing home resident keeps a $55 a month personal needs allowance (effective July 1, 2024); most other income goes toward the cost of care.

Other asset figures worth knowing:

• MAPP: $15,000 in countable assets for people with disabilities who work.
• Medicare Savings Programs: $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple in 2026.
• QDWI: $4,000 for one person and $6,000 for a couple.

Giving away money or property for less than its value within the look-back period can delay nursing home coverage. Families planning for long-term care should talk with an elder law attorney or the local Aging and Disability Resource Center before moving assets.

Wisconsin and Medicaid Expansion: Why Adults Stop at 100%

41 states and DC have adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion and 10 haven't, according to KFF's status of state Medicaid expansion decisions (opens in a new tab) (a non-government compilation, published October 16, 2026). Wisconsin is in the group that hasn't. The Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023) lists Wisconsin's expansion column as "No/95%," with a footnote that a Section 1115 demonstration covers some additional low-income adults.

That waiver is why Wisconsin looks different from other non-expansion states. In Texas and Florida, an adult without children generally can't get full Medicaid at any income. In Wisconsin, that same adult qualifies up to 100% of poverty. According to the DHS BadgerCare Plus enrollment data for September 2026, 192,891 childless adults were enrolled, along with 120,397 parents and caretakers.

The gap Wisconsin does have sits between 100% and 138% of poverty. Neighbors that expanded, like Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota, cover adults up to 138%. A Wisconsin adult in that band goes to the Marketplace instead, where premium tax credits begin at 100% of poverty. Grantsights analysis of the 2026 HHS guidelines shows the band runs from $15,960 to $22,025 a year for one person, so a single adult earning $20,000 would get Medicaid across the border in Minnesota but a subsidized private plan in Wisconsin.

What changes in 2026 and 2027

• Noncitizen adults, already in effect. Under DMS Operations Memo 26-29 (opens in a new tab) (August 14, 2026), starting October 1, 2026 adults with refugee, asylee, parolee, withholding of removal, VAWA self-petitioner, trafficking victim, Amerasian and several other statuses lost eligibility for BadgerCare Plus, SSI Medicaid and SSI-related Medicaid. Adult eligibility now covers U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA citizens. Lawfully residing children and pregnant people keep coverage.
• Work requirement, starting 2027. The 2025 federal law applies to Wisconsin's waiver adults even though the state didn't expand. According to the DHS work requirement page (revised November 2, 2026), new applicants must meet it starting January 1, 2027, and most current members are checked at a renewal from March 2027. The test is 80 hours a month of work, school (half-time or more), volunteering or a work program, or at least $580 in monthly income, in one month since your last approval.
• Who's exempt. DHS lists members under 19 or over 64, people who are pregnant or within 12 months after pregnancy, members of other Medicaid programs, and parents or guardians of a child under 19 who lives with them at least 40% of the time, plus medical and other exemptions on the DHS exemptions page.
• Renewal timing. DHS says it checks the work requirement at annual renewal. As of November 3, 2026, DHS hadn't published a six-month renewal schedule for BadgerCare Plus adults, so Grantsights isn't reporting one.

The BadgerCare dollar amounts in the charts stay the same through all of this.

What Wisconsin DHS Doesn't Tell You About BadgerCare Limits

Grantsights compared DHS's public chart with the handbook tables and found 5 things a family can miss:

1. The public chart hides two children's lines. The DHS income page shows 201% and 306%, but Section 50.1 also lists 156% for children 6 to 18 and 191% for children 1 to 5. Those lower lines matter for backdated coverage, presumptive eligibility and kids with other health insurance, so a family asking for coverage of past months should ask which line their child is tested against.
2. Premiums don't cost a child the coverage. Section 19.1 says that paying a premium isn't a condition of eligibility; a child stays on BadgerCare Plus even if the premium goes unpaid. Children also can't get a new or higher premium during their 12-month continuous coverage period.
3. Premiums climb steeply near the top. Grantsights analysis of the Section 48.1 premium table shows a child costs $10 a month at 201% to 230% of poverty but $97.53 at 301% to 306%, nearly ten times as much. The 5% cap protects large families: Section 48.1 gives an example where 11 children would owe $1,072.83 but the cap holds the bill to $983.
4. Two different February 1 versus January 1 schedules. BadgerCare limits update each February 1, but SSI-based EBD and nursing home limits update January 1, and the state supplement part changes May 1. A senior who checks in January can see a mix of old and new numbers.
5. Extensions keep some families covered after a raise. The 100% column is also the "Extensions trigger limit." Families who go over it because of new earnings can sometimes keep BadgerCare Plus for a period through an extension instead of losing it the next month. Ask the agency about an extension before assuming coverage ends.

The DHS BadgerCare Plus home page (opens in a new tab) explains the program in plain terms, but the detailed figures above live in the two eligibility handbooks, which update on their own release schedules.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

These are the errors that most often lead to a wrong answer about BadgerCare Plus:

• Comparing take-home pay to the chart. The limits are gross. A paycheck after taxes understates income and can make you think you qualify when you don't, or the reverse if pre-tax deductions weren't subtracted.
• Assuming kids are out because a parent is. A common mistake is skipping the children's application after a parent is turned down. Kids qualify up to more than three times the adult line.
• Leaving the pregnancy out of the household count. A pregnant person counts herself plus each expected baby, which raises the limit.
• Ignoring the deductible route. Pregnant people and children above 306% can still qualify by meeting a deductible, and EBD applicants above the medically needy line can do the same.
• Underestimating the work requirement for parents of older kids. The DHS exemption covers children under 19. A parent whose youngest child turns 19 may have to start meeting the 80-hour test.
• Paying for help. Applying is free through ACCESS, by phone or at your local agency. A red flag is any website, text or caller that charges a fee, promises approval, or asks for your ACCESS password or bank login. DHS and county or tribal agencies never charge to apply.

How to Apply for BadgerCare Plus and How Long It Takes

Section 25.7 of the BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook (opens in a new tab) gives the agency 30 days from the date it receives your application to decide and send a notice. If it asks for proof, you get at least 20 days from the date the request is mailed, and the deadline moves to allow that. If the agency is late and you're found eligible, it must still honor your original filing date.

According to the DHS apply for benefits page (opens in a new tab), you can apply:

1. Online through ACCESS (opens in a new tab), which also checks FoodShare and other programs on the same application.
2. By phone with your county or tribal income maintenance agency during office hours.
3. By mail using the BadgerCare Plus Application Packet (F-10182), or the EBD Application Packet (F-10101) for seniors and people with disabilities.
4. In person at your local agency.

Have Social Security numbers, birthdates, pay information with employer contact details, other income, and any job-based health insurance offer ready. DHS lists Member Services at 800-362-3002 for questions after you enroll. If you also need food help, our Wisconsin food stamps guide covers FoodShare, which uses different limits.

What to Do If You're Denied

The Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) handles BadgerCare Plus hearings, and Section 29.2.2 of the handbook (opens in a new tab) says DHA must receive your request within 45 days of the date the action takes effect. You can use form DHA-28 or a letter, sent by mail, fax or email to DHA. Agencies must mail notice of a cut or termination at least 10 days before it takes effect, and if your hearing request arrives before that date, your coverage can continue until the decision.

Start with the reason on the notice. If it's income, check whether the agency used gross monthly pay, the right household size, and current pay rather than an old job. You can ask your agency for a conference to fix an error, but that doesn't stop the 45-day clock, so file the hearing request at the same time.

If You're Over the BadgerCare Plus Limit

Going over the 100% adult line still leaves at least 6 routes worth checking. For a parent just above the line, the best bet is usually a subsidized Marketplace plan for the adult while the children stay on BadgerCare Plus:

• HealthCare.gov Marketplace. Wisconsin uses the federal Marketplace. Adults from 100% of poverty up can get premium tax credits; see HealthCare.gov's savings page (opens in a new tab). DHS warns that someone denied Medicaid for not meeting the work requirement won't qualify for those tax credits.
• Children's and pregnancy coverage up to 306%, with small premiums for kids above 201%.
• Medicare Savings Programs for people with Medicare, from QMB at 100% up to SLMB+ below 135%.
• MAPP for workers with disabilities under 250% of poverty.
• WIC for pregnant people, new parents and children under 5 up to 185% of poverty: see our WIC income limits guide.
• Programs for seniors and people with disabilities: our SSI income limits guide and help for seniors programs guide cover cash and service programs.

Wisconsin winters make heating bills a real budget item, and our LIHEAP income limits guide covers that help; the federal poverty guidelines guide shows how each percentage band above turns into dollars. To compare Wisconsin with a neighbor that expanded in a different way, see our Iowa Medicaid income limits guide. If rent, utility or food costs are the bigger problem right now, Grantsights' free eligibility checker lists official Wisconsin and federal programs to look at. It doesn't decide BadgerCare Plus eligibility and doesn't file anything; it shows you where to apply.

FAQ: Wisconsin Medicaid Income Limits

What is the income limit for BadgerCare Plus in 2026?

$1,330.00 a month for one adult and $2,750.00 for four; children and pregnant people up to $4,069.80 for one.

How much can a family of 4 make and get BadgerCare in Wisconsin?

Parents up to $2,750.00 a month; children up to $8,415.00, with premiums above $5,527.50.

Did Wisconsin expand Medicaid?

No. A waiver covers adults without children up to 100% of poverty instead.

What is the BadgerCare income limit for pregnant women?

$5,518.19 a month for two people and $6,966.61 for three, counting the unborn baby.

What are the Medicaid limits for seniors and people with disabilities in Wisconsin?

$1,086.16 a month (categorically needy) or $1,330.00 (medically needy), with a $2,000 asset limit.

What is the income limit for nursing home Medicaid in Wisconsin?

$2,982.00 a month in 2026, the same limit used for Group B community waivers.

When does the BadgerCare work requirement start?

January 1, 2027 for new applicants; most current members at renewals from March 2027.

How long do I have to appeal a BadgerCare denial?

45 days from the date the action takes effect; file before that date to keep coverage during the appeal.

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Sources

1. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Income Guidelines (opens in a new tab), effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027
2. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook Section 50.1, Federal Poverty Level Table (opens in a new tab), Release 26-03
3. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook Section 16.1, Income (opens in a new tab) - group limits and disregards
4. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook Section 48.1, Children's Premium Tables (opens in a new tab), effective February 1, 2026
5. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook Section 19.1, Premiums for Children (opens in a new tab)
6. Wisconsin DHS: Medicaid Eligibility Handbook Section 39.4, EBD Assets and Income Tables (opens in a new tab), Release 26-03
7. Wisconsin DHS: DMS Operations Memo 26-29, Health Care Eligibility Changes for Non-Citizens (opens in a new tab), August 14, 2026
8. Wisconsin DHS: DMS Operations Memo 25-23 (opens in a new tab) - 2026 tax filing thresholds
9. Wisconsin DHS: Medicaid New Federal Work Requirement (opens in a new tab), revised November 2, 2026
10. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Statewide Enrollment, September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
11. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook Section 25.7, Application Processing Period (opens in a new tab)
12. Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook Section 29.2, Fair Hearings (opens in a new tab) and Section 29.1, Notices (opens in a new tab)
13. Wisconsin DHS: Apply for Benefits (opens in a new tab) and BadgerCare Plus Contacts (opens in a new tab)
14. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
15. Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (December 2023 data), used here for Wisconsin (opens in a new tab), Wisconsin row, as of December 1, 2023
16. KFF: Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions (opens in a new tab), October 16, 2026 (non-government compilation), Wisconsin listed as not expanded
17. HealthCare.gov: Lower costs on Marketplace coverage (opens in a new tab)