Wisconsin expands postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months

Wisconsin expands postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months

Wisconsin will extend postpartum BadgerCare coverage from 60 days to 12 months for eligible mothers starting July 1.

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin mothers will soon have access to a full year of government-funded health coverage after childbirth, after lawmakers approved a change supporters had pushed for years.

Bill signing

What we know:

Gov. Tony Evers was at Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee on Wednesday, March 18, to sign the bill.

The new law extends postpartum BadgerCare coverage for eligible, lower-income mothers from 60 days to 12 months. Advocates say the added coverage will help women continue getting care, medication and follow-up treatment during the critical months after giving birth.

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Wisconsin had been one of only two states that had not expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage. With the law now in place, Wisconsin joins 48 other states that have opted in, leaving Arkansas as the only state that has not.

Local perspective

What they're saying:

"To see a consensus come together in this divided legislature over this really important bill, it means everything to women in Wisconsin who know that we live in a state where we are prioritized and going to be taken care of," said Kate Duffy of Motherhood for Good.

Supporters say the longer coverage period will make a meaningful difference for the mothers they serve.

"Having someone to be able to ask questions, get support, get surgery if they need it, get medication if they need it, and not have to worry about where the money is going to come from," said Tamara Thompson, a doula. "Because, of course, they're not working right? So we don't have paid leave for people who are home, similar to other states, and have paid leave for people after they have a birth, but we'll keep working towards that one too."

Thompson said the issue is deeply personal. She was on BadgerCare when she gave birth to her daughter, Demara, on Sept. 12, 2021. Months later, her daughter contracted a virus and died.

"I had doula clients who had lost their own children, and I held their hand through that and listened to them and helped comfort them, gave them information, support and resources, and then it happened to me," Thompson said.

Evers reflected on how long the proposal had been in the works, pointing to years of efforts to expand postpartum coverage.

"Almost seven years ago to the day, I first proposed expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a full year. It was one of the very first things I announced back in 2019 as part of my very first budget, and it’s been in every budget I’ve ever introduced as governor—that’s how long I’ve been fighting to get this done, folks," Evers said.

Years of debate ends

Dig deeper:

The bill had bipartisan support for years, but it had repeatedly stalled in the Legislature. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos had previously blocked the proposal, saying at the time he opposed expanding welfare. But in the final hours of the Assembly’s work period, and as he prepared to retire, Vos allowed the bill to come to a vote and supported it.

"This issue has never been a Republican/Democrat issue," Evers said. "It was always a woman/baby issue, and it's unfortunate it took so long, but it certainly is needed, and we can do better for our kids and for our moms, and who can argue with that."

Expanded postpartum coverage will be available for Wisconsin families starting July 1, 2026, following a standard period of review and approval of Wisconsin’s state plan amendment by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

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