55,000 could lose their state medical benefits under Walker budget

[WI_DEM]

About 55,000 people could lose their health insurance under the state's BadgerCare program, under Gov. Scott Walker's budget plan released Tuesday.

Walker's budget also would shrink aid to Wisconsin Works participants and could mean reduced state child care subsidies to low-income families.

In an effort to slow the growth in spending on Medicaid, Walker says he will seek permission from the federal government to tighten eligibility standards and would cut off people faster who are found no longer eligible. If the federal government does not give the state permission to toughen its standards in determining who gets Medicaid, the state would eliminate coverage to families that earn more than 133% of the federal poverty level on July 1, 2012. That threshold currently is $24,352 a year for a family of three.

Wisconsin is among states providing health insurance to adults with children under 19 and household income up to 200% of the poverty line, or $36,620 for a family of three.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117193763.html