Care4Kids Program: Information for Members, Families, and Other Caregivers
Care4Kids is expanding
More Wisconsin children and youth can now join Care4Kids, including:
- Children of Care4Kids members
- Youth up to age 26 who were in out-of-home care when they turned 18
Care4Kids members in out-of-home care can also live in more places and stay covered. They can move to any county and stay enrolled, as long as Chorus Community Health Plan offers services in the area.
Plus, Care4Kids now offers care coordination to youth in institutional or residential care up to 90 days before joining.
Find out what you need to know while you are enrolled in Care4Kids.
Using your ForwardHealth card
After joining Care4Kids, your child will get a ForwardHealth card in the mail. If they had BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid, or the Family Planning Only Services Program in the past, they won’t get a new card. Use the same card that was used before.
If your child does not have a ForwardHealth card, or it was lost or stolen, go to ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) or call ForwardHealth Member Services at 800-362-3002.
Your child’s ForwardHealth card has their name. There is a place for you to sign your name as soon as you get it. If you need help, the Member Services phone number is on the card.
You must show your child’s card when they go to the doctor. You also need it when you pick up medicine at the pharmacy.
Finding a provider
Care4Kids uses Chorus Community Health Plan to provide services. You can pick any doctor or provider in the Plan for your child.
Find a list of Care4Kids providers
Getting services
Care4Kids is part of Wisconsin Medicaid that offers full benefit coverage, plus extra benefits tailored to the unique needs of children who experience out-of-home care. It covers dental, physical, and behavioral health services, and offers individualized care coordination.
Learn more about Care4Kids services
Moving homes
The county with child welfare jurisdiction must be the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, or Waukesha County. However, children in Care4Kids can move to an out-of-home placement in any part of the state, as long as it’s in the Chorus Community Health Plan service area. Chorus serves all Wisconsin counties except: Burnett, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix.
If a Care4Kids member moves, they should check with their health care coordinator to make sure their services can continue and that their information gets updated with Medicaid.
Key contacts
Enrollment specialist
Call 800-291-2002, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Choose the option for your language of choice. Then choose option 3 for Care4Kids.
Health care coordinator
Email care4kids@chw.org. Please do not include any medical information in your email. Email is not secure.
Call 855-371-8104. Care4Kids staff are available 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m.–4 p.m. on Friday
Common questions
If you are a parent of a child enrolled in Care4Kids or a young adult over the age of 18 enrolled in Care4Kids, you have a right to voice complaints or appeals with Care4Kids or the care it provides.
It is called a grievance if you have a complaint about things like:
- The quality of medical services provided.
- Rudeness from a health care provider or an Care4Kids employee.
- Your rights as a member not being respected.
There are a few ways to start a grievance:
- Call Care4Kids at 855-371-8104.
- Call the HMO enrollment specialist at 800-291-2002 if you want to talk to someone outside Care4Kids about the problem.
- Mail the grievance in writing to:
BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid SSI Managed Care Ombuds
PO Box 6470
Madison, WI 53716-0470
It is called an appeal if you disagree if when medical services for your child are:
- Denied
- Limited
- Reduced or delayed
When requesting an appeal, you must appeal to the Care4Kids program first. If you disagree with C4K program’s decision about your appeal, you may request a fair hearing with the Wisconsin Division of Hearing and Appeals.
To request an appeal, call:
- The Care4Kids health care coordinator at 1-855-371-8104
- Wisconsin Managed Care Ombuds at 1-800-760-0001
- HMO enrollment specialist at 1-800-291-2002
For complete information on filing a compliant or requesting an appeal, please see the Care4Kids Member Handbook (PDF).
Contact Medicaid Member Services at 800-362-3002.
After joining Care4Kids, your child will get a plastic ForwardHealth card in the mail. If they had BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid, or the Family Planning Only Services Program in the past, they won’t get a new card. Use the same card that was used before.
If your child does not have a ForwardHealth card, or it was lost or stolen, go to ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) or call ForwardHealth Member Services at 800-362-3002.