Moving to or from Wisconsin with Medicaid
Moving TO Wisconsin
BadgerCare Plus (Wisconsin's Medicaid program) does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Wisconsin resident applies fresh through Wisconsin Department of Health Services. There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Wisconsin's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Wisconsin
Leaving Wisconsin ends your BadgerCare Plus (Wisconsin's Medicaid program) case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Wisconsin Department of Health Services effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Wisconsin Department of Health Services ↗ (application page)
Wisconsin Medicaid at a glance
| Program name | BadgerCare Plus |
|---|---|
| ACA Medicaid expansion | No — adults need a category |
| Adult income limit | 100% of the federal poverty level |
| Processing | up to 45 days |
Common questions
Who runs Medicaid in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which runs the program as BadgerCare Plus. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Wisconsin make new residents wait for Medicaid?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for Medicaid. You apply as soon as you live in Wisconsin; eligibility is decided on Wisconsin's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Wisconsin?
Contact Wisconsin Department of Health Services (official link below) to report the move and close your case effective your move month.
Every move involving Wisconsin
From Wisconsin to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
To Wisconsin from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- Wisconsin DHS — BadgerCare Plus — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Handbook — 16.1 Income — accessed 2026-08-08