Free Health Insurance Wisconsin: Your 2027 BadgerCare & Marketplace Guide
Free health insurance in Wisconsin comes from two places: BadgerCare Plus or a premium tax credit. Wisconsin's marketplace for 2027 is HealthCare.gov, and open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. Here are the 2027 income limits, the new BadgerCare Plus work requirement, and how to be covered by January 1.
Get a Free 2027 Quote ↓Quick answer: Wisconsin adults earning up to 100% of the poverty level ($1,330 a month for one person) can qualify for BadgerCare Plus (Medicaid). Above that, premium tax credits on HealthCare.gov can cut some plans to $0. Open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027; enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage.
Last updated: October 5, 2026
Free Health Insurance in Wisconsin: What “Free” Really Means in 2027
Free health insurance Wisconsin residents can actually get comes from two places. The first is BadgerCare Plus, the state's Medicaid program run by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). It covers adults with income up to 100% of the federal poverty level, and children and pregnant people at higher incomes. The second is a premium tax credit on HealthCare.gov, which CMS lists as Wisconsin's federally facilitated marketplace for plan year 2027. If your household income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, the credit pays part or all of your monthly premium directly to the insurer, and at lower incomes that math can land on a $0-premium plan. The same rules apply statewide, from Milwaukee and Madison to Green Bay, Kenosha, and Eau Claire.
Here's what changed for 2027. The extra “enhanced” tax credits of 2021–2025 expired at the end of 2025, and they are not back for 2027 under current law unless Congress acts. Credits are smaller than they were in 2025, and the 400% FPL cliff is back: earn $1 over the line and your credit is $0. BadgerCare Plus is changing too. Starting January 1, 2027, some adults must meet a federal work requirement to get or keep coverage. Our open enrollment 2027 guide covers the national picture; this page is the Wisconsin version.
FreedInsure LLC is an independent brokerage; its licensed agent, Constantino Lardi (NPN 20230457), is licensed in 42 states, Wisconsin included. We project your income, calculate your 2027 credit, compare the plans sold in your county, and enroll you — and our help is 100% free to you. Call (844) 788-3733 or see if you qualify.
Wisconsin Health Insurance Income Limits for 2027
Marketplace savings for 2027 coverage are based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines: $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four. The IRS sets how much of your income you're expected to pay for the benchmark Silver plan, and the tax credit covers the rest. In Wisconsin, the bottom of the scale is handled by BadgerCare Plus.
| 2027 Household Income | Household of 1 | Household of 4 | What You Typically Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100% FPL | Up to $15,960 ($1,330/mo) | Up to $33,000 ($2,750/mo) | BadgerCare Plus for adults 19–64, under DHS's current limits (see below) |
| 100–150% FPL | $15,960–$23,940 | $33,000–$49,500 | The biggest credits — you pay about 2.15%–4.30% of income for the benchmark Silver plan, and 94% CSR Silver plans are available |
| 150–200% FPL | $23,940–$31,920 | $49,500–$66,000 | You pay 4.30%–6.78% of income for benchmark Silver, plus 87% CSR Silver plans that shrink deductibles |
| 200–250% FPL | $31,920–$39,900 | $66,000–$82,500 | You pay 6.78%–8.66% of income; 73% CSR Silver plans still trim cost sharing |
| 250–400% FPL | $39,900–$63,840 | $82,500–$132,000 | You pay 8.66%–10.22% of income — credits taper but still cut real dollars off the premium |
| Over 400% FPL | $63,840+ | $132,000+ | No premium tax credit for 2027 under current law — full-price plans, so shopping smart matters most |
Family-of-four marketplace figures are derived from the 2026 guidelines, so treat them as approximate. The BadgerCare Plus figures are DHS's published monthly limits, effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Medicaid uses the current year's poverty guidelines, so those dollar limits change once the 2027 guidelines take effect. Our Medicaid income limits by state guide shows how Wisconsin compares.
Income means your projected 2027 household income — W-2 wages, 1099 and gig income, self-employment, everything. Getting it right matters more than ever: for tax years after 2025 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credits, so a low estimate can mean paying back the full difference at tax time. Starting January 1, 2027, federal law also limits premium tax credits to fewer groups of lawfully present immigrants (green-card holders remain eligible). Want a number now? Try the 2027 ACA subsidy calculator or read our full ACA income limits guide.
The $1 problem: at 400% of FPL — $63,840 for a single person — the 2027 credit stops cold. One extra dollar of projected income and the whole credit disappears. If you're anywhere near the line, read how to avoid the 2027 subsidy cliff before you enroll, or call (844) 788-3733 and we'll run the math free.
BadgerCare Plus in 2027: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Wisconsin has not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion — KFF counts it among the 10 states that haven't — but it does something most non-expansion states don't. BadgerCare Plus covers adults, including adults without children, with income up to 100% of the poverty level. DHS calls BadgerCare Plus “full coverage Medicaid” for Wisconsinites ages 0–64, and Wisconsin Medicaid's member brand is ForwardHealth. (Medicaid.gov lists the adult limit as 95% of poverty before the standard 5% income disregard, which lands on the same 100% line.)
| Household Size | Adults (100% FPL), per month | Pregnant People & Children (306% FPL), per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330.00 | $4,069.80 |
| 2 | $1,803.33 | $5,518.19 |
| 3 | $2,276.67 | $6,966.61 |
| 4 | $2,750.00 | $8,415.00 |
These are DHS's BadgerCare Plus income guidelines, effective February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027. Children are covered up to 306% FPL, but families above 201% FPL (for example, above $5,527.50 a month for a family of four) pay a premium for children's coverage. Pregnant people are covered up to 306% FPL.
How to apply for BadgerCare Plus
BadgerCare Plus has no open enrollment period — you can apply any time. The fastest route is online through ACCESS, which DHS calls the fastest and easiest way to apply. You can also apply by phone or in person through your local county or Tribal agency, or by mail. Questions about existing coverage go to ForwardHealth Member Services at 800-362-3002 (8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday).
Straight talk: BadgerCare Plus is a state program, not something we sell. If it's your best option, we'll tell you exactly that and point you to ACCESS — no charge. Because BadgerCare Plus covers adults to 100% FPL and marketplace credits start at 100% FPL, most low-income Wisconsin adults don't fall into the coverage gap found in other non-expansion states. If your income sits near the line, a 10-minute call maps which side you're on. And if your BadgerCare Plus coverage ends, you can usually get a Special Enrollment Period for marketplace coverage: HealthCare.gov allows up to 90 days after Medicaid coverage ends to enroll.
The BadgerCare Plus Work Requirement: What Changes in 2027
Wisconsin didn't expand Medicaid, but DHS says it is still required to apply the new federal work requirement to some BadgerCare Plus adults. Here is how DHS describes it on its Medicaid work requirement page.
Who must meet it
BadgerCare Plus members ages 19–64 who are not pregnant, not disabled, and don't have dependent children under 19 living with them. A parent or guardian of a child under 19 who lives with them at least 40% of the time is not subject to it.
When it starts
New applicants: January 1, 2027 — you must meet it in the month before you apply. Most current members: at your next scheduled renewal, starting March 2027. After that, DHS checks at application and once a year at renewal.
How to meet it
80 hours in the month of work (including unpaid work such as internships), volunteering, a work program, or education — or at least $580 of income in the month. Unemployment benefits count as income.
If you don't meet it
Current members lose coverage at renewal, with advance notice, and applicants are denied. You can reapply at any time. You can still buy a marketplace plan, but DHS says you will not qualify for advance premium tax credits.
Exemptions follow federal law and include pregnancy or the 12 months after, a disability determination, SSI, Medicaid long-term care programs such as Family Care or IRIS, veterans with a total disability rating, serious medical conditions, caregivers, people in treatment programs, people incarcerated now or in the past three months, former foster youth, American Indians and Alaska Natives, FoodShare members who are not exempt from FoodShare work requirements, and people meeting Wisconsin Works (W-2) work requirements. DHS adds that Wisconsin intends to allow the extra short-term hardship exemptions federal law permits, such as inpatient care and living in a disaster or high-unemployment county.
Our honest take: if this could apply to you, make sure DHS has your current mailing address. DHS planned to mail letters to affected members in August or September 2026 and offers an online screening tool. Losing BadgerCare Plus over the work requirement also blocks marketplace tax credits, so it pays to get the paperwork right the first time.
The Wisconsin Health Insurance Marketplace: Plans for 2027
Wisconsin's marketplace runs on HealthCare.gov, and it stays there for 2027: CMS lists Wisconsin as a federally facilitated marketplace state for plan year 2027. Every plan sold there is ACA-compliant: the 10 essential health benefits, no pre-existing condition exclusions, and preventive care at no cost. Carriers vary by county and change from year to year, so the only lineup that matters is the one for your ZIP code. We confirm which carriers actually offer 2027 plans in your county, and check them against your doctors and prescriptions, before recommending anything. (See our carrier partners.)
Wisconsin also runs a state reinsurance program for the individual market, the Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan (WIHSP). Wisconsin's insurance regulator runs it under a federal Section 1332 waiver extended through December 31, 2028. It works with insurers behind the scenes, so there's nothing for you to apply for.
Bronze
Lowest premiums — they can be $0 after credits at lower incomes — with the highest deductibles. Exchange bronze plans now count as HSA-eligible, and the 2027 HSA limit is $4,500 for self-only coverage.
Silver
The sweet spot for most subsidy-eligible households. Under ~250% FPL, Cost-Sharing Reductions can cut a 2027 out-of-pocket maximum from $12,000 to as low as $4,000 for one person.
Gold
Higher premium, lower out-of-pocket. The smart pick when you know care is coming — a planned procedure, a pregnancy, ongoing prescriptions.
Add-Ons
Dental & vision, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and term life coverage stack alongside your ACA plan — often the difference between covered and comfortable.
One honest warning: a $0 premium is not $0 care. Free bronze plans carry real deductibles, and a 2027 marketplace plan can have an out-of-pocket maximum as high as $12,000 for one person ($24,000 for a family). If your income is under ~250% FPL, a CSR Silver plan is often the far better deal than the “free” one. Need a stopgap between jobs? Short-term health insurance in Wisconsin can bridge a gap, but it isn't ACA coverage.
Open Enrollment 2027 in Wisconsin: Key Dates
Wisconsin uses the federal marketplace, so the HealthCare.gov calendar applies: open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. Some states, including neighboring Illinois, run their own exchanges and can set different dates. You can compare every state on our 2027 open enrollment deadlines by state page.
November 1, 2026
Open enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov. Compare 2027 plans, premiums, and your new credit amount.
December 15, 2026
Last day to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. This is the deadline that matters most.
January 15, 2027
Open enrollment ends. Enroll between December 16 and January 15 and coverage starts February 1, 2027 — a one-month gap.
After January 15
You'll need a qualifying life event (losing job coverage, losing Medicaid, moving, marriage, or a birth) to open a Special Enrollment Period, usually 60 days long (90 days after losing Medicaid).
BadgerCare Plus runs on a different clock: there's no open enrollment period, so you can apply through ACCESS any time of year. Enrolling in a marketplace plan through FreedInsure takes about 15 minutes: (1) we project your 2027 income and calculate the exact credit, (2) we compare the plans in your county against your doctors and prescriptions, and (3) we submit the enrollment and stay on as your advisor all year. Same plans, same prices as going direct — plus a human who answers. Call (844) 788-3733 or check your Wisconsin eligibility.
Straight talk on auto-renewal: if you do nothing, most enrollees are automatically re-enrolled in the same or a similar plan. But with credits smaller and premiums changing, last year's plan at last year's assumptions can be this year's overpay. Never let a plan auto-renew without a 15-minute re-shop — here's how to decide — and do it before December 15 so any change starts January 1.
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Free Health Insurance Wisconsin FAQ: 2027 Answers
Sources
- Dates and deadlines for 2027 health insurance — HealthCare.gov
- States by Marketplace Type for Plan Year 2027 — CMS
- BadgerCare Plus Income Guidelines — Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Medicaid: New Federal Work Requirement — Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- How Many Uninsured Are in the Coverage Gap (Medicaid expansion status) — KFF
- Special Enrollment Period — HealthCare.gov
- Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan — Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
- Rev. Proc. 2026-26: 2027 applicable percentage table — IRS
- 2027 maximum out-of-pocket and cost-sharing reduction parameters — CMS
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