ForwardHealth Partners: Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) Partner Toolkit
About the federal government shutdown
DHS is closely monitoring the current federal government shutdown. Our goal is to keep the public informed, especially our members who receive vital health and nutrition support and services.
Here is what FoodShare, WIC, and Medicaid members need to know:
- Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, November benefits for FoodShare members will be delayed. FoodShare benefits are 100 percent funded by the federal government. DHS is fighting to get November FoodShare benefits out to members. However, benefits will continue to be delayed. At this time, we are still waiting for the federal government's release of funds for these benefits. We are closely monitoring multiple lawsuits seeking to force the federal government to use emergency funds to get FoodShare members their November benefits. According to the decisions today made by federal judges, the federal government likely must pay for at least partial November FoodShare benefits during the government shutdown. November FoodShare benefits will continue to be delayed at this time as the court case continues. As soon as we have more details, we will share another update.
- For updated information about using FoodShare benefits right now and the latest information on when November benefits will be available, visit the FoodShare News page. Call 211 to find out about other sources of food assistance in your area.
- As of October 31, WIC benefits will be available throughout the month of November. You can continue to use your WIC benefits, attend WIC appointments, and do not need to take any action. Contact your local WIC agency with any questions.
- Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus members still have coverage to get the care and services they need. For updates, visit the Medicaid News page.
Easy access to outreach materials and resources
This toolkit is designed to give you the information and the communication tools you need to help members better understand their Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) benefits.
You can find more information about MAPP eligibility, enrollment, work requirements, and premiums at the Medicaid Purchase Plan webpage.
MAPP premium enhancements timeline
| Key Dates | Communication or Action |
|---|---|
| October 20 |
|
| November 5 | Premium reminder text message sent Note: Text message reminders are sent on the 5th and 20th of each month. Second reminder only sent if premium is unpaid |
| November 10 | November premium due date |
| November 19 | December premium statement mailed Note: During this transition month, if a member has not paid their November premium, it will not be reflected on the December premium statement |
| December 5 | Premium reminder text message sent |
| December 10 | December premium due date |
| December 20 | Premium reminder text message sent if December premium has not been paid |
| December 22 | January premium statement sent Updated premium statement will include January premium amount and if unpaid the past due December amount with a cover letter to draw attention to past due premium |
| January 10 | January premium due date |
| January 16 | January Adverse Action If member has not paid December premium, they will receive a letter informing them that their last day of MAPP coverage will be January 31 |
| January 31 | First possible disenrollment for nonpayment of premium If member has not paid December premium, they are disenrolled from MAPP |
Meetings
MAPP webinar
This webinar is for Wisconsin Department of Health Services partners who want to know more about the enhancements being made to MAPP premium payments.
When
- Date: September 30, 2025
- Time: 9–10 a.m.
Recording and materials
Frequently asked questions
Checks and money orders, along with the tear-off portion of the premium statement, should be mailed to:
Medicaid Purchase Plan
PO Box 93187
Milwaukee, WI 53293-0187
Payment sent to this address will be processed within 2-3 days after receipt.
MAPP members should call Member Services at 800-362-3002 for questions about or issues with:
- ACCESS
- MyACCESS
- ACCESS AutoPay
To avoid processing delays, MAPP premiums should be paid online or by mail. If someone comes to a local agency with a premium payment, the agency staff will help them pay online or mail their check or money order.
In very limited circumstances, in-person premiums can be accepted for processing by a local agency.
For this to happen, all of the following criteria must be met:
- The individual is unable to pay their premium online.
- The individual's benefits will end before the payment can be processed by mail.
- The individual has a specific and immediate medical need, where a delay in the beginning of benefits or a temporary closure of benefits will result in not being able to get a prescription, not being able to attend a medical appointment, or loss of long-term care services prior to the premium being processed.
Find partner resources
These are for partner awareness only. These are not to be edited or shared with members.
Letter to members who have not paid MAPP premiums
This one-time letter will be sent October 20, 2025, to members who have not paid MAPP premiums in one or more of the past three months (July, August, and September).
- Letter to members who have not paid premiums, English (PDF)
- Letter to members who have not paid premiums, Spanish (PDF)
Pay your initial MAPP premium
A new cover letter is sent with the initial premium statement telling applicants how to pay their initial premium.
Premium statement with past due amount
When a member owes a premium from the previous month, both months will be included on the premium statement and a cover letter will be included.
- Premium statement with past due amount—Coming soon!
- Past due cover letter—Coming soon!
Automatic premium payment reminder
Members who have an recurring payment method set up (ACCESS AutoPay, EFT, or wage withholding) will receive this letter instead of a premium statement to avoid duplicate payments.
- Automatic premium payment reminder—ACCESS AutoPay (PDF)
- Automatic premium payment reminder—EFT (PDF)
- Automatic premium payment reminder—Wage withholding (PDF)
How to set up electronic funds transfer
The electronic funds transfer (EFT) form is sent with a new cover letter when members request information about EFT.
How to set up wage withholding
The wage withholding form is sent with a new cover letter when members request information about wage withholding.
AutoPay enrollment confirmation
This letter confirms that a member signed up for ACCESS AutoPay to pay their MAPP premiums.
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums started, English (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums started, Spanish (PDF)
AutoPay disenrollment confirmation
This letter confirms that a member's ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums has ended. There are several versions of this depending on the reason that AutoPay has ended.
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—voluntary disenrollment, English (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—voluntary disenrollment, Spanish (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—wage withholding enrollment, English (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—wage withholding enrollment, Spanish (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—EFT enrollment, English (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—EFT enrollment, Spanish (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—no longer owes a premium, English (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—no longer owes a premium, Spanish (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—no longer eligible for MAPP benefits, English (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—no longer eligible for MAPP benefits, Spanish (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—payment failed, English (PDF)
- Your ACCESS AutoPay for MAPP premiums ended—payment failed, Spanish (PDF)
Premium payment reminder #1
Reminder message sent around 1:30 p.m. on the 5th of the month to members who owe a MAPP premium and do not have an automatic payment method set up.
Premium payment reminder #2
Reminder message sent around 1:30 p.m. on the 20th of the month to members who have not yet paid their premium for that month.
ACCESS AutoPay enrollment confirmation
This text message is sent to members who successfully enrolled in ACCESS AutoPay. The message is sent around 11 a.m. daily and reflects enrollment between 5:30 a.m. the previous day and 5:30 a.m. the day the message is sent.
ACCESS AutoPay disenrollment confirmation
This text message is sent to members who have been disenrolled from ACCESS AutoPay. The message is sent around 11 a.m. daily and reflects disenrollments between 5:30 a.m. the previous day and 5:30 a.m. the day the message is sent.
Automatic premium payment confirmation
MAPP members who have an automatic payment method set up (ACCESS AutoPay, EFT, wage withholding) receive this message to confirm that their premium payment has been received. This will be sent around 10:15 a.m. on the 4th day of the month.
Electronic funds transfer (EFT) and wage withholding
- Member/Employer Electronic Funds Transfer for Medicaid Purchase Plan Premiums, F-13023
- Medicaid Purchase Plan Premium Employer Wage Withholding, F-13024
Temporary hardship waiver
Work requirement
- Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) Work Requirement Exemption, F-10127
- Health and Employment Counseling Application, F-00004
Independence accounts
Agency
Your agency is the local county or Tribal office that helps you with your state benefits. Your agency is responsible for enrolling you in MAPP and registering your Independence Accounts.
Family
For MAPP, a family is the applicant, the applicant’s legal spouse, and any dependent, natural, or adoptive child(ren) who live with the applicant. Stepchildren are not included in the family group for MAPP.
Health and Employment Counseling (HEC)
This is the program certified by the Department of Health Services to help you plan for reaching your work goals. For more information, call the HEC coordinator at 866-278-6440.
Impairment-Related Work Expense (IRWE)
An IRWE is the cost for items or services that you need to work because of an impairment. For example, if you needed a service animal to work, the cost of the animal, training, or even food, could be considered an IRWE. Other examples of IRWEs include modified audio/visual equipment, typing aids, specialized keyboards, prostheses, reading aids, vehicle modification (plus installation, maintenance, and associated repair costs), and wheelchairs.
You pay for IRWE expenses out of pocket. They are subtracted from your gross income before we decide if your income is over the 250% FPL to be eligible for MAPP. We also subtract IRWEs from the income we use to set your premium amount. IRWE expenses may lower your premium amount.
Independence Accounts
These are financial accounts that you open or existing retirement accounts that are exempt from the $15,000 asset limit for MAPP. Independence accounts allow you to save some money from earnings without losing MAPP benefits.
Initial Premium Payment
This is the full premium for the first month that must be paid before you can be enrolled in MAPP.
Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP)
The Medicaid Purchase Plan is a program that allows adults with disabilities who are working or are interested in working the opportunity to enroll in health care coverage.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are anticipated, incurred expenses for services or goods that have been prescribed or provided by a licensed medical practitioner for diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease or treatment affecting any part of the body. These are expenses that are the responsibility of the member and cannot be paid by any other source, such as Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or employer.
Examples of medical expenses include:
- Deductibles and copayments for Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance
- Health insurance premiums
- Bills for medical services that are not covered by Wisconsin Medicaid
Member
A person who is enrolled in MAPP.
Remedial Expenses
Remedial expenses are costs for services or goods that are provided to relieve, remedy, or reduce a medical or health condition. These expenses are a member’s responsibility and cannot be paid by any other source, such as Medicaid, private insurance, or employer.
Examples include:
- Case management
- Daycare
- Housing modifications for accessibility
- Respite care
- Supportive home care
- Transportation
Remedial expenses do not include housing or room and board services.