Medicaid Work Requirements Coming Soon

By the GWAAR Legal Services Team

The 2025 budget reconciliation law, called the “One Big Beautiful Bill” or “H.R. 1,” signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025, will make several changes to Wisconsin’s Medicaid programs.

One change will require BadgerCare Plus members between the ages of 19 and 64 to meet work requirements beginning January1, 2027 unless they are exempt. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) will send notices in fall 2026 to all childless adults who will have to meet this requirement. 

BadgerCare Plus members who are required to meet the work requirement must prove that they are doing 80 hours of work, or another approved activity, each month. Other activities that meet the work requirement include volunteering or being enrolled in at least a part-time education or job-training program. People whose monthly income is at least equal to the minimum wage multiplied by 80 hours and seasonal workers whose average monthly income over the past six months is at least the minimum wage multiplied by 80 hours will also meet the work require-ment. Wisconsin’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. 

People who do not meet these requirements will receive a notice telling them that they have 30 days to prove they are working, volunteering, or enrolled in an education or job training program. If they cannot prove this, they will be disenrolled from BadgerCare Plus. New applicants who do not meet these requirements will have their applications denied. 

Some people will be exempt from the work requirement. 

These people include: 

· Parents, guardians, or caretakers of dependent children under age 13 or disabled individuals; 

· Individuals who are pregnant; 

· Former foster care youth under age 26; 

· Individuals who are medically frail; 

· Individuals participating in a substance use disorder treatment program; 

· Individuals who meet FoodShare work requirements; 

· Native American tribal members; 

· Disabled veterans; and 

· Individuals who are incarcerated or who were released from incarceration within the last 90 days. 

The federal government is expected to release more guidance by June 2026. For the latest news from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services about upcom-ing Medicaid changes, please see: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forwardhealth/partners/federal-changes.htm.