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Eligibility Management (Income Maintenance) Home >> HCTC

HEALTH COVERAGE TAX CREDIT (HCTC) WISCONSIN'S STATE QUALIFIED HEALTH PLAN — BADGERCARE PLUS BENCHMARK PLAN

Printable Version (PDF 123KB)

HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR HCTC?

The HCTC allows workers displaced by foreign industries and retirees that meet specific criteria to receive an advance federal tax credit toward the purchase of a qualified private health insurance plan. Those with questions about their eligibility for the program may call the HCTC Customer Contact Center at 1-866-628-4282, or go to the HCTC Web site at http://www.irs.gov/ (key word HCTC).

WHAT IS WISCONSIN ’S STATE QUALIFIED HEALTH PLAN? 

Wisconsin’s state qualified plan is called the BadgerCare Plus Benchmark plan. 

WHAT DOES THE BADGERCARE PLUS BENCHMARK PLAN COVER?

COVERED SERVICES
SERVICE LIMITS
COPAY
Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Coverage of certain surgical procedures and related lab services.

$15 copay per visit.

Chiropractic Services

Full coverage

$15 per visit

Dental Services

For pregnant women and children only, limited coverage of preventive, diagnostic, simple restorative, periodontics, extractions.  Limited to $750 each year.

50% of allowed amount* plus $200 deductible each year. Pregnant women are exempt from deductible and cost-sharing requirements for dental services.

Disposable Medical Supplies (DMS)

Coverage of diabetic supplies, ostomy supplies, and other DMS that are required with the use of durable medical equipment (DME).

$0.50 copay per prescription for diabetic supplies.

No copay for other DMS.

Drugs 

Generic drugs only.  Brand name drugs are available through the Badger Rx Gold plan.  This is a separate program run by Navitus that provides a discount on the drug cost.  Benchmark plan members are automatically enrolled in this plan.

Limited to 5 opioid prescriptions per month.

$5 each prescription.

Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

Full coverage limited to $2,500 each enrollment year, including rental costs. 

Hearing aid repairs are subject to the $2,500 enrollment year limit.

$5 each item.  Rental items are not subject to a copay but count toward the annual limit.

Emergency Transportation

Limited to emergency transportation by ambulance.

$50 each trip.

End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Full Coverage No copay

Family Planning Services

Full coverage. Does not cover infertility treatments, surrogate parenting and related services, including but not limited to artificial insemination and subsequent obstetrical care, and the reversal of voluntary sterilization.

No copay for family planning services.

Health Screenings for Children

Full coverage of HealthCheck screenings for members under 21 years of age.

$1 copay per screening for members 18, 19 and 20 years of age.

Hearing Services Full coverage for members 17 years of age and younger.

$15 per visit, regardless of the number or type of procedures administered during one visit.

Home Health Services (Home Health, Private Duty Nursing and Personal Care)

Full coverage of home health services. Coverage limited to 60 visits per enrollment year.

Private duty nursing and personal care are not covered.

$15 each visit.

Hospice

Limited to 360 days per lifetime.

No copay

Hospital — Inpatient; 

Full coverage 

Copays are follows:

  • $100 stay for medical stays.

  • $50 copay per stay for mental health and/or substance abuse treatment.

Hospital Outpatient;  Full coverage 

 $15 copay per visit.

Hospital Emergency Room  Full Coverage $60 copay per visit (waived if admitted to hospital).

Mental Health and Substance Abuse, including inpatient care

Covered services include outpatient mental health, outpatient substance abuse (including narcotic treatment), mental health day treatment for adults, substance abuse day treatment for adults and children, and child/adolescent mental health day treatment and inpatient hospital stays for mental health and substance abuse.

$10 to $15 copay per visit for all outpatient services:

  • $10 per day for all day treatment services.
  • $15 per visit for narcotic treatment services (no copay for lab tests).
  • $15 per visit for outpatient mental health diagnostic interview exam, psychotherapy — individual or group (no copay for electro- convulsive therapy and pharmacological management).
  • $15 per visit for outpatient substance abuse services.

Nursing Home

Limited to 30 days each enrollment year.

No copay

Physician Visits

Full coverage, including laboratory and radiology.

$15 each visit.  No copay for emergency services, preventive care, anesthesia or clozapine management.

Podiatry Services

Full coverage.

$15 each visit.

Prenatal/Maternity Care

Full coverage, including prenatal care coordination, and preventive mental health and substance abuse screening and counseling for women at risk of mental health or substance abuse problems.

No copay.

Routine Vision

One eye exam per enrollment year, with refraction.

$15 each visit.

Smoking Cessation Services (Prescription)

Coverage includes prescription generic and over-the-counter tobacco cessation products.

$5 each generic drug.

Therapy — Physical, Occupational, Speech, Cardiac

Coverage limited to 20 visits per therapy type per enrollment year. Covers up to 36 visits per enrollment year for cardiac rehabilitation provided by a physical therapist.

Covers up to a maximum of 60 Speech Language Pathology (SLP) visits over a 20-week period following a bone anchored hearing aid or cochlear implant surgeries (members 17 years of age and younger). These SLP services do not count towards the 20-visit limit for SLP.

$15 each visit, per provider.

There are no monthly or annual copay limits.

Transportation Full coverage of emergency and non-emergency transportation to and from a certified provider for a BadgerCare Plus covered service.
  • $50 copay per trip for emergency transportation by ambulance.
  • $1 copay per trip for transportation by SMV (Specialized Medical Vehicle).
  • No copay for transportation by common carrier or emergency ambulance.

* Allowed amount is the amount BadgerCare Plus allows for the service, and not what the provider bills. For more information, contact Member Services at 1-800-362-3002.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SERVICES

In order to receive services, the service must be determined to be medically necessary per Wisconsin State Statute 101.03 (96m).

Providers know the BadgerCare Plus coverage limits. The provider must tell you if BadgerCare Plus doesn’t cover a service before the service is provided.

A provider can charge you for services that are not covered by BadgerCare Plus if the provider told you before providing the service that the service wasn’t covered, and you agreed to pay for the service.

If you are enrolled in the Benchmark plan and can’t pay your co-payment right away, the provider may refuse to provide services.

HOW MUCH WILL MY PREMIUM BE? 

Premiums for HCTC participants are based upon age, gender, and the area of the state in which they live.  Based on these factors, individual total premium amounts (before HCTC reduction) range from approximately $100-$400 per person per month.

HOW WILL I ACCESS SERVICES?

Each person who is enrolled in BadgerCare Plus will get a ForwardHealth card.

  This is a picture of the front and back of the ForwardHealth card

When you go to a BadgerCare Plus provider make sure you take the card for the person who has the appointment.  You should also have your Badger Rx Gold card with you in the event it is needed for brand name prescriptions.

Providers don’t have to see a person who doesn’t have his/her card. If you don’t have the card with you, you may be asked to pay for the services.

WHICH PROVIDERS MAY I USE?

For the first few months the program is available in Wisconsin, HCTC participants will not be not enrolled in an HMO.  During this time, HCTC participants should check with their health care providers to see if they accept the ForwardHealth card. If not, call Member Services at 1-800-362-3002 and ask for help finding a provider.  All services must be provided by a BadgerCare Plus provider. If you get services from someone who is not, you will be responsible for paying the cost of the service.

In the future, new HCTC enrollees will be required to enroll in an HMO, and existing members will be asked to choose an HMO in order to continue receiving services. 

HOW CAN I ENROLL IN THE BADGERCARE PLUS BENCHMARK PLAN AS AN HCTC MEMBER, OR GET MORE INFORMATION?

Call the HCTC Call Center at (608) 266-6740.  

 P-10181 (02/13)

Last Revised: April 19, 2013