How to renew your Wisconsin Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth)

Always respond to official renewal notices from Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth). Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

BadgerCare Plus renews annually — respond within 30 days of your renewal notice to keep coverage

Wisconsin requires BadgerCare Plus members to respond to their annual renewal notice within 30 days. This is a shorter window than many other states. If you do not respond, Wisconsin will attempt to contact you, but coverage will eventually be terminated. Renew online at access.wi.gov or call 800-362-3002.

How Wisconsin renews Medicaid coverage

Wisconsin reviews BadgerCare Plus eligibility every 12 months through a redetermination. Like all states, Wisconsin first tries ex parte renewal — checking income data, quarterly wage records, and other available sources to verify continued eligibility automatically without requiring action from the member.

If Wisconsin can confirm your continued eligibility through ex parte data, your coverage renews automatically. You receive a renewal confirmation notice — no action required.

If Wisconsin cannot verify your eligibility automatically, you receive a renewal notice asking you to confirm or update your information. Wisconsin's response window is 30 days — shorter than Indiana (60 days) or Missouri (90 days). Respond promptly.

How to complete your BadgerCare Plus renewal

Online (ACCESS portal)

Log into your account at access.wi.gov. This is the fastest method — renewals submitted online typically process within a few business days.

MyACCESS mobile app

Wisconsin's MyACCESS mobile app (iOS and Android) allows you to complete your renewal from your smartphone. Scan and upload documents directly from the app.

By phone

Call ForwardHealth at 800-362-3002 (TTY: 888-701-1252) to complete your renewal by phone with a representative.

In person

Visit your local county human services department. Bring your renewal notice, a photo ID, and any supporting documents.

Documents you may need for renewal

Proof of income — recent pay stubs (last 4 weeks), employer letter, or tax records
Proof of Wisconsin residency — utility bill, bank statement, or lease with current address
Social Security numbers for all household members
Changes in household composition — new household members, people who have moved out
Any changes in other health insurance (gaining employer coverage, Medicare changes)

Adults above 100% FPL: marketplace coverage at renewal

Adults who become ineligible for BadgerCare Plus at renewal may qualify for ACA marketplace coverage

Wisconsin did not expand Medicaid under the ACA, so adults above 100% FPL cannot get BadgerCare Plus coverage. If your income increases above the 100% FPL limit at renewal, you become ineligible for BadgerCare Plus. However, adults between 100% and 400% FPL can get heavily subsidized coverage through the federal marketplace at healthcare.gov. A BadgerCare Plus termination notice qualifies as a Special Enrollment Period — you have 60 days from the termination to enroll in a marketplace plan.

If your coverage is terminated

If Wisconsin terminates your BadgerCare Plus coverage, you have the right to request a fair hearing. Appeals should be filed within 45 days of the termination notice. Wisconsin Legal Aid at legalaction.org and Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee at lasmilwaukee.com can assist with Medicaid appeals. If your coverage was terminated in error, contact ForwardHealth immediately with your case number.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Wisconsin Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth) to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth) sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth)'s online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth) to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth) within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Wisconsin Medicaid (ForwardHealth) or update your information through the online portal at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/index.htm.