Medicaid: New Federal Work Requirement
A new federal Medicaid work requirement will affect some members enrolled in BadgerCare Plus in 2027
Work requirements are coming in early 2027 for some Medicaid members enrolled in BadgerCare Plus. When the new federal law takes effect, some members between 19 and 64 years old will have to work, go to school, or volunteer in order to keep their health care coverage. If you could be affected, we will send you more information in August or September to explain what you’ll need to do.
Background
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, added several new red-tape requirements, including new federal work requirements to Medicaid. Because of that, under federal law that Wisconsin is required to implement beginning in 2027, some adults enrolled in BadgerCare Plus will need to show that they work, go to school, or volunteer, in order to keep their health care coverage.
Do I have to meet the new federal Medicaid work requirement? How will I know?
If you are enrolled in BadgerCare Plus and are between 19 and 64 years old, not pregnant, not disabled, and don’t have children under 19 living with you, then you may need to meet the federal work requirement. There are other reasons (work requirement exemptions) why you may not need to meet the work requirement.
If you could be affected by the federal work requirement, we’ll send you a letter in August or September to explain what you need to know and what will happen next.
Does this apply to me?
Use our screening tool to check whether you may have to meet the new federal work requirement.
When does the work requirement start?
- New applicants: January 1, 2027. The earliest you would be affected by the federal work requirement is for new applications beginning in January. You must meet the federal work requirement for at least 80 hours in the month before you submit an application. For example, if you apply for Medicaid in January 2027, you must meet the federal work requirement in December 2026.
- Most existing members: March 1, 2027. The earliest you would be affected by the federal work requirement is at your next renewal of health care coverage, beginning after March. You must meet the federal work requirement for 80 hours in one month in the time since you were last approved for health care coverage. For example, if you are due to renew your Medicaid coverage in March 2027, you must meet the federal work requirement in one month between March 2026 and February 2027.
What can I do now?
- Keep your contact information up to date (mailing address, phone, and email address) with your agency.
- Read any notices you get about your BadgerCare Plus coverage in the mail or online.
- Set up an ACCESS account and get the MyACCESS app to see important notices.
- Check our Medicaid News webpage for the latest information.
- Continue to use your BadgerCare Plus coverage to get the health care and services you need.
Questions and answers
To meet the federal work requirement, you can work, volunteer, participate in a work program, and/or participate in an education program.
- If you are already enrolled in BadgerCare Plus, you must do these activities for 80 hours in one month in the time since you were last approved for health care coverage.
- New applicants must do these activities for at least 80 hours in the month before you submit an application.
You can also meet the requirement if you have monthly income of at least $580 (the federal minimum wage x 80 hours) in one month since you were last approved for coverage (for current members) or in the month before you submit an application (for new applicants).
Maybe. Under the federal law passed by Congress and signed by the President, you may have to meet the federal work requirement if you are a BadgerCare Plus member and if your children are 19 or older or if your children do not live with you at least 40% of the time.
Yes, under the law passed by Congress and the President, there are some limited exemptions. Exemptions are reasons that the law says people don’t have to meet the federal Medicaid work requirement.
As a reminder, you don’t have to meet the federal work requirement if you are:
- Enrolled in a Medicaid program other than BadgerCare Plus
- Under age 19 or over age 64
- A parent or guardian of a child under age 19 who lives with you at least 40% of the time
- Pregnant or in the 12 months after your pregnancy
- Someone who has been determined to have a disability
You may be exempt from the federal work requirement if you are:
- A veteran with a total disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Enrolled in FoodShare and not exempt from FoodShare work requirements
- Someone with one or more serious medical conditions
- A caregiver of a dependent child 13 years of age and under or of someone with a disability
- Participating in certain drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation programs
- Currently in prison or jail, or were in prison or jail in the past three months
- Someone who was in foster care, subsidized guardianship, or court-ordered kinship care when they turned 18
- A member of an American Indian Tribal nation or an Alaska Native, or the child or grandchild of a Tribal nation member
- Meeting the Wisconsin Works (W-2) work requirements
Also, Wisconsin intends to allow all additional short-term hardship exemptions permitted in federal law. This means you may not have to meet the federal work requirement if you are:
- Receiving inpatient hospital services or certain other types of medical care
- Residing in a county where there is a presidential declaration of a disaster or emergency
- Residing in a county with an unemployment rate over a certain threshold
- Needing to travel outside of your community for an extended time period to get treatment for yourself or for a dependent