BadgerCare Plus Income Limits 2026: Wisconsin Medicaid Chart by Family Size

Wisconsin's own chart, effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, lets one adult have up to $1,330 a month and a household of four up to $2,750 a month for adults, which is 100% of the federal poverty level. Every figure below comes from the state agency's own chart, effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027, not from federal averages or the old Medicaid.gov table.

Maintained by Archie Chang · Charts and sources checked October 30, 2026 · Methodology & sources

Check your income

$

Enter the whole household's countable income. States count income with MAGI rules, so this is a starting point, not a decision.

Result

Your income is above Wisconsin's chart amount for this group.

Your income, a year
$18,000
Household size used in the chart
1
Wisconsin chart amount, a year, 100%
$15,960
Wisconsin chart amount, a month
$1,330

Another group, a different household count or income that the state counts differently could still lead to coverage, and Medicaid for people who are 65 or older or have a disability uses different rules.

This is not an eligibility decision. Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) decides what income counts (MAGI rules), who is in the household and the final result. Apply to find out: ACCESS (Wisconsin DHS).

Wisconsin Medicaid income limit chart, 2026

Monthly and annual limits by household size for each group the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) prints. Bold figures are printed by the state; italic figures are FedRateCalc's calculation (a monthly figure times 12, an annual figure divided by 12). The state chart effective date is February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027.

Medicaid income limits by household size and coverage group
Household sizeAdults 19 to 64 without dependent children (childless adults)100%Effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027Parents and caretaker relatives100%Effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027Pregnant people306%Effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027Children under 19306%Effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027
1$1,330 a month$15,960 a year$1,330 a month$15,960 a year$4,069.80 a month$48,837.60 a year$4,069.80 a month$48,837.60 a year
2$1,803.33 a month$21,639.96 a year$1,803.33 a month$21,639.96 a year$5,518.19 a month$66,218.28 a year$5,518.19 a month$66,218.28 a year
3$2,276.67 a month$27,320.04 a year$2,276.67 a month$27,320.04 a year$6,966.61 a month$83,599.32 a year$6,966.61 a month$83,599.32 a year
4$2,750 a month$33,000 a year$2,750 a month$33,000 a year$8,415 a month$100,980 a year$8,415 a month$100,980 a year
5$3,223.33 a month$38,679.96 a year$3,223.33 a month$38,679.96 a year$9,863.39 a month$118,360.68 a year$9,863.39 a month$118,360.68 a year
6$3,696.67 a month$44,360.04 a year$3,696.67 a month$44,360.04 a year$11,311.81 a month$135,741.72 a year$11,311.81 a month$135,741.72 a year
7$4,170 a month$50,040 a year$4,170 a month$50,040 a year$12,760.20 a month$153,122.40 a year$12,760.20 a month$153,122.40 a year
8$4,643.33 a month$55,719.96 a year$4,643.33 a month$55,719.96 a year$14,208.59 a month$170,503.08 a year$14,208.59 a month$170,503.08 a year
  • Adults 19 to 64 without dependent children (childless adults): The handbook says parents, caretakers and childless adults already have the income disregard included in the 100% limit.
  • Pregnant people: The DHS table prints a row for a family size of 1 under pregnant people and children together; a pregnant woman counts herself and the children she expects to deliver.
  • Children under 19: The handbook says children and pregnant women with income above the limit can become eligible by meeting a deductible.
  • The DHS table is headed "BadgerCare Plus income limits and thresholds, effective February 1, 2026–January 31, 2027" and prints monthly amounts to the cent for family sizes 1 to 10; the page footer says it was last revised July 10, 2026. This page shows sizes 1 to 8.
  • The BadgerCare Plus Handbook says children, pregnant women and individuals eligible under Family Planning Only Services get an income disregard equal to 5% of the FPL plus a conversion factor adjustment equal to 1% of the FPL, so that while the income limit remains 300% FPL the state tests against 306% FPL. It lists parents and caretaker relatives and childless adults at 100% FPL with the disregard already included.
  • The Medicaid.gov table of December 1, 2023 shows 95% for Wisconsin parents and caretakers and 301% for children and pregnant women; the DHS page and handbook (100% and 306%) are the sources used for 2026.

Chart sources: Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Income Guidelines (effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027); Wisconsin DHS: BadgerCare Plus Handbook Release 26-02, section 16.1.1 Income Limits.

How Wisconsin counts the 5 percent disregard

Federal rules tell states to subtract 5 percentage points of the poverty level from income for the eligibility group with the highest income standard. That is why some state charts print a percentage such as 133% and others print the total, such as 138%.

“Effective January 1, 2014, in determining the eligibility of an individual using MAGI-based income, a state must subtract an amount equivalent to 5 percentage points of the Federal poverty level for the applicable family size only to determine the eligibility of an individual for medical assistance under the eligibility group with the highest income standard using MAGI-based methodologies in the applicable Title of the Act, but not to determine eligibility for a particular eligibility group.”
42 CFR 435.603(d)(4) (source)

In Wisconsin's chart, the amounts for Adults 19 to 64 without dependent children (childless adults); Parents and caretaker relatives; Pregnant people; Children under 19 already include the 5 points, so the table shows the total and the checker above has no separate step for them.

The household size in the chart for a pregnant woman counts the children she is expected to deliver:

“In the case of determining the family size of a pregnant woman, the pregnant woman is counted as herself plus the number of children she is expected to deliver. In the case of determining the family size of other individuals who have a pregnant woman in their household, the pregnant woman is counted, at State option, as either 1 or 2 person(s) or as herself plus the number of children she is expected to deliver.”
42 CFR 435.603(b), definition of family size (source)

Wisconsin Medicaid programs and expansion

Wisconsin has not expanded Medicaid to all adults at 133% of the federal poverty level, but BadgerCare Plus covers parents and caretaker relatives and adults without dependent children at 100%. Medicaid.gov's table, as of December 1, 2023, shows "No/95%" for Wisconsin in the column for expansion to adults, with a footnote saying the state has a section 1115 demonstration that provides Medicaid coverage to some additional low-income adults.

  • BadgerCare Plus. The DHS page says BadgerCare Plus provides health insurance benefits to people ages 0-64, with limits based on the federal poverty level. The table shows its adult, pregnant and children limits.
  • Children premium threshold. The DHS table also lists a children premium threshold at 201% of the poverty level ($2,673.30 a month for one); it is a premium threshold, not an eligibility limit, and is not in the checker.

How to apply for Medicaid in Wisconsin

The Department of Health Services says the only way to know if you can enroll in BadgerCare Plus is to apply, and that you can apply on ACCESS or by phone or in person at your agency; one application also checks for other state benefits. You can also apply through the Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which sends your information to the state agency if you may qualify.

ACCESS (Wisconsin DHS) · HealthCare.gov Medicaid and CHIP

Wisconsin Medicaid changes in 2027

Wisconsin DHS says a federal work requirement affects some BadgerCare Plus members 19 to 64 who are not pregnant, not disabled and have no dependent children under 19 living with them: new applicants must meet it from January 1, 2027, and most current members are checked at their renewal beginning in March 2027.

“If you are enrolled in BadgerCare Plus and are between 19 and 64 years old, not pregnant, not disabled, and don’t have dependent 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.”
Wisconsin DHS, Medicaid: New Federal Work Requirement (source)
“New applicants: January 1, 2027. You must meet the federal work requirement 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.”
Wisconsin DHS, Medicaid: New Federal Work Requirement (source)
“Most current members: March 2027. The earliest you would be affected by the federal work requirement is at your next scheduled health care coverage renewal, beginning in March.”
Wisconsin DHS, Medicaid: New Federal Work Requirement (source)
“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.”
Wisconsin DHS, Medicaid: New Federal Work Requirement (source)
“The state has a section 1115 demonstration, which provides Medicaid coverage to some additional low-income adults. In some cases, coverage: Includes limitations on eligibility and benefits Is not offered to all residents of the state Includes an enrollment cap”
Medicaid.gov eligibility levels page (table as of December 1, 2023), footnote 9, attached to Wisconsin (source)

Wisconsin's own page ties the requirement to BadgerCare Plus members who are 19 to 64, not pregnant, not disabled and have no dependent children under 19 living with them, not to an expansion group. On the statute's wording, the requirement applies to individuals in the expansion adult group, and to individuals in a waiver group with coverage equivalent to minimum essential coverage who are 19 to 64, not pregnant, not entitled to or enrolled in Medicare and not otherwise eligible under the State plan. FedRateCalc reads Wisconsin's adults-without-children group at 100% as that kind of group; Wisconsin's groups for children and pregnant women are not covered by that wording. This is FedRateCalc's reading of the statute together with Wisconsin's page; the state decides who is covered.

The federal law behind these changes, Public Law 119-21, is explained with its exemptions and dates on the Medicaid income limits page. The income limits in the table above do not change because of it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Wisconsin Medicaid income limit in 2026?

Wisconsin's own chart, effective February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, lets one adult have up to $1,330 a month and a household of four up to $2,750 a month for adults, which is 100% of the federal poverty level.

Did Wisconsin expand Medicaid?

Wisconsin has not expanded Medicaid to all adults at 133% of the federal poverty level, but BadgerCare Plus covers parents and caretaker relatives and adults without dependent children at 100%. Medicaid.gov's table, as of December 1, 2023, shows "No/95%" for Wisconsin in the column for expansion to adults, with a footnote saying the state has a section 1115 demonstration that provides Medicaid coverage to some additional low-income adults.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Wisconsin?

The Department of Health Services says the only way to know if you can enroll in BadgerCare Plus is to apply, and that you can apply on ACCESS or by phone or in person at your agency; one application also checks for other state benefits. You can also apply through the Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which sends your information to the state agency if you may qualify.

What changes for Wisconsin Medicaid in 2027?

Wisconsin DHS says a federal work requirement affects some BadgerCare Plus members 19 to 64 who are not pregnant, not disabled and have no dependent children under 19 living with them: new applicants must meet it from January 1, 2027, and most current members are checked at their renewal beginning in March 2027. The charts on this page are 2026 charts; the community engagement requirement and six-month renewals are separate from the income limits.

Do the same limits apply to Wisconsin seniors and people with disabilities?

No. Medicaid for people who are aged, blind or disabled uses different income and resource rules from the MAGI groups in this chart. Ask the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) or see Medicare vs Medicaid on this site.

How often does Wisconsin update its Medicaid income limits?

The charts follow the federal poverty guidelines, which HHS updates each year, and Wisconsin's chart took effect February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. FedRateCalc will look for Wisconsin's 2027 chart after HHS publishes the 2027 guidelines.

Related pages

FedRateCalc is not a government site and cannot decide eligibility. Charts change when the state updates them; confirm with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) before relying on a figure.

Sources

All sources are government pages, read October 30, 2026. The Medicaid.gov table is dated December 1, 2023 and is used only as a cross-check.