BadgerCare Plus for Families

How Income Is Counted

To determine which plan is available to you and if there is a cost, we look at your gross family income (before any deductions or taxes). For BadgerCare Plus for Families you are allowed to deduct any court-ordered child support you are obligated to pay. Your gross income minus any child support obligation is your net income.

Please Note: Earnings of children under age 18 are not counted. 

Example: A family of four has gross monthly income of $2,999.25 and a court-ordered child support obligation of $350 each month. This family’s net income is $2,649.25. This is below the monthly income limit for a family of four (currently $3,925.00).

How Income from Self-Employment is Counted

For families with self-employment income, we determine your average monthly net income from your business. This is usually based on your previous year’s tax return. When there has been a change in your circumstances, we will base the monthly average on your net income from the business since the change. Under BadgerCare Plus for Families, we allow most business expenses except depreciation, mortgage principal of business loans, purchase of capital assets or durable goods.

If your family income, including self-employment income is at or below 200% of the FPL without deducting depreciation expenses, you will be enrolled in the Standard Plan. If your family income is over 200% of the FPL, a second calculation is done to deduct any depreciation expenses from the business income. If the depreciation deduction reduces your family income below the monthly income limit, the family will be enrolled in the Benchmark Plan.

Example: A family of four, whose income is from self-employment, has a gross monthly income of $4,200 and allowed expenses of $200.

Since the net income of $4,000 is more than the monthly income limit of $3,925.00 for a family of four, a second calculation is done subtracting the monthly depreciation expenses. This family reported $400.

Since the amount after depreciation expenses is below $3,925.00, this family is enrolled in the Benchmark Plan.

Next — Standard and Benchmark Plans: Premiums and Copays

Previous — Enrollment Date/Backdated Covered

Last Revised: February 07, 2013