Last January 21, Governor Jim Doyle announced a new self-funded health care plan for adults without dependent children who are on the state health care waiting list.

In a press release issued by the governor’s office, BadgerCare Plus Basic will grant enrollees with limited access to physicians, hospital services, generic prescriptions and catastrophic coverage, and will be paid for entirely through a monthly premium of $130. The Basic plan is not designed to be a long term health coverage plan, but instead will be a bridge plan to keep individuals healthy while they wait for space in the BadgerCare Plus Core Plan.

“With BadgerCare Plus, we’ve made Wisconsin America’s health care leader,” Doyle said. “Because of BadgerCare, we’ve been able to help people get through this very difficult period without facing serious health consequences or financial ruin. Badger Care Basic will provide access to care for those waiting for a spot in the Core Plan, so they can get care when they are sick and don’t go bankrupt in the process.”

Currently, there are over 64,000 individuals enrolled in the state’s BadgerCare Plus Core Plan, which suspended new enrollments in mid-October due to budget limits.

“This will not be a Cadillac health plan,” Doyle explains. “In fact, it will be just what the name suggests – it will be basic. But basic coverage can be the difference between a treatable condition and a trip to the emergency room. And basic coverage can be the difference between having protection while you try and get your feet back on the ground and going bankrupt trying to pay for medical care.”