Free, expert health insurance help.
Free, expert health insurance help.

Welcome to WisCovered.com, a website by the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.

Keep Insurance
Keep your health insurance!

If you get Wisconsin health care benefits (such as BadgerCare Plus or Medicaid) you must renew your enrollment once a year.

Sign Up
When can I sign up?

Learn about your options to get health insurance.

Fit Check
Does your plan still fit?

Now’s a great time to review what you’re paying, check your coverage, and explore other available options.

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Finding affordable health insurance that works for you can be hard. We get it.

But no one should have to struggle to find insurance that gets them the care they need, when and where they need it. Your health matters.

The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance built WisCovered.com to help you explore your options and make informed decisions. Here you’ll find answers to common questions that may help you find coverage or get help paying for your health insurance, and links to trusted sites where you can review plans and apply online. Prefer to talk it through? Free expert help is available throughout Wisconsin.

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Common Questions
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About WisCovered

Common Questions and Answers

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Who Can Get Health Insurance

  • You can stay on your parent’s plan if you’re under 26
    • If a parent’s health insurance plan covers dependents (from their job or a private plan), you usually can be added to their plan and stay on it until you turn 26.
    • If your parents count you as a dependent on their taxes, you can stay on their Healthcare.gov plan until you turn 26.
    • Learn more about staying (or getting on) a parent’s plan.
  • See if you qualify for BadgerCare
    • You may apply for BadgerCare Plus at any time. The best way to find out if you qualify is to apply. If you’re parents claim you on their taxes, you must include their income in your application.
    • Find out which program you may qualify for:
      • Answer two quick questions with this online tool.
      • Speak with an expert by using the web chat on this page.
    • If you want to apply on your own, go to the ACCESS website.
  • Ask your college about student health plans
    • If your school offers a student health plan, it can be an easy way to get basic insurance coverage.
  • Get your own plan on HealthCare.gov
    • At HealthCare.gov, you’ll find a variety of plans and prices available to you. Depending on your situation, you may be able to get savings based on your income. But if someone will claim you as a tax dependent on next year’s tax return, you must include their income in your application.
    • You can apply for a plan during Open Enrollment.
  • You may apply for BadgerCare Plus at any time. The best way to find out if you qualify is to apply.
  • Find out which program you may qualify for:
    • Answer two quick questions with this online tool.
    • Speak with an expert by using the web chat on this page.
  • If you want to apply on your own, go to the ACCESS website.
  • BadgerCare may be able to back-date your application to cover medical care you already got during the last 90 days. If you need to back-date your application, work with an expert or your local IM agency.

If you lose your health insurance plan from work, you can sometimes keep that insurance for up to 18 months. This option is called COBRA. With COBRA, you usually pay the full cost of the plan.

Get free, expert help to see if COBRA or a plan on HealthCare.gov is the best option for you.

ObamaCare is a common name for health insurance available for purchase on the federal marketplace. You might have also heard it called HealthCare.gov. 

You can apply for a plan on HealthCare.gov right now or you can get free expert help.  

You might even be able to get help paying for some or all of the costs of your premium.

Getting sick or having an accident can be expensive. Every health insurance plan on HealthCare.gov covers: doctor visits, preventive care, hospital stays, prescription drugs, pregnancy and newborn care, children’s dental care, mental health services, and more. ​HealthCare.gov plans won’t deny claims or cancel your plan because of a pre-existing condition.  

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How to Sign Up

Depending on the time of the year or if you have certain life changes, you may be able to sign up!

All Wisconsinites can shop for health insurance from November 1 to January 15. This period is called Open Enrollment (learn more about Open Enrollment below).

After January 15, you may still be able to sign up for health coverage with BadgerCare Plus (the State of Wisconsin’s health insurance program) or a Special Enrollment Period.

Special Enrollment Period on HealthCare.gov

  • If you have certain life changes you may be able to sign up for a plan outside of Open Enrollment. This is called a Special Enrollment Period. Tribal members and their families can enroll at any time.
  • Life changes include:
    • Losing health coverage
    • Getting married
    • Moving
    • Having a baby
    • View more qualifying life changes.
    • If your household’s income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($23,475/year for an individual, $48,225/year for a family of four), you’re able to sign up for a plan.
  • Find out if you qualify by getting free expert help:
  • If you want to apply on your own, you can do an application on HealthCare.gov. You can chat with an expert if you need help.

BadgerCare Plus

  • You may apply for BadgerCare Plus at any time. The best way to find out if you qualify is to apply.
  • Find out which program you may qualify for:
    • Answer two quick questions with this online tool.
    • Speak with an expert by using the web chat on this page.
  • If you want to apply on your own, go to the ACCESS website.

BadgerCare may be able to back-date your application to cover medical care you already got during the last 90 days. If you need to back-date your application, work with an expert or your local IM agency.

Yes! Check out some of your options below. 

Yes. If you want to purchase a health insurance plan, you can buy one directly from an insurance agent.  

Agents and brokers sometimes provide free, year-round help with Marketplace and other insurance like Medicare. They are contracted by insurance companies to help you. They should not charge you.

If you are not comfortable submitting your own application on HealthCare.gov, it’s safest to work with someone who is licensed and certified: 

A health insurance expert is a person trained and registered with the state of Wisconsin. This includes: 

  • Navigators: provide free, year-round help with Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Marketplace plans. They also help to resolve problems with coverage and medical bills. Navigators are federally trained and certified.
  • Certified Application Counselors (CAC): provide free, year-round help with Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Marketplace. CACs are federally trained and certified.
  • Agents and brokers: sometimes provide free, year-round help with Marketplace and other insurance like Medicare. They are contracted by insurance companies to help you. They should not charge you.

Make sure you’re working with a licensed expert.

Health insurance help should always be free.

HealthCare.gov is the Health Insurance Marketplace. Open Enrollment is the time of year when you can sign up for a health insurance plan. Open Enrollment is from November 1 to January 15 ​in the state of Wisconsin.

Yes! Free, expert help is available to help you start or finish an application.

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What It Costs

You may be able to save money on your health insurance. You may also be eligible for the State of Wisconsin’s health insurance program called BadgerCare Plus. 

The cost of health insurance depends on household size and income. Find out if you can save money or get low-cost health insurance:

Using or Renewing Insurance

Yes. Every year plan prices and options change. It’s important to update your information.

Make sure you update your:

  • Income
  • Household information
  • Contact information
  • Contact preferences

If your income goes down or you have a baby, you may qualify for additional financial help. If your income goes up, make sure to update it.

Be sure to check to see if your favorite doctors, hospitals, medications, and pharmacies are still available if you renew your plan – sometimes networks change from year to year.​​

Department of Health Services (DHS)

  • What to expect at renewal time
  • When do I renew?
  • How do I do my renewal?

Department of Health Services


Covering Wisconsin

  • Find your renewal date
  • Complete your renewal and submit documents
  • How to renew late
  • Find other types of coverage if you no longer qualify
  • Live chat with an expert for free

Covering Wisconsin


ACCESS and MyACCESS

  • Submit your renewal through the ACCESS website. You can also use the companion MyACCESS smartphone app to manage your benefits.
  • View step-by-step instructions for completing your renewal.

Speak to an Expert

A health insurance expert can help you find the best affordable plan for you. These experts work at organizations like Covering Wisconsin, community health centers, and other nonprofits. They have access to all health insurance options available to Wisconsinites from private insurance to BadgerCare Plus. Health insurance experts don’t make money by signing you up for a plan.
Call now and ask for help with health insurance.
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Anywhere in Wisconsin

(877) 942-6837

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Are You 65 Years of Age or Older or Need Help with Medicare?

1 (800) 242-1060

Board on Aging & Long Term Care

Statewide icon

Anywhere in Wisconsin

Call (877) 942-6837
Medicare icon
Are You 65 Years of Age or Older or Need Help with Medicare?
Call 1 (800) 242-1060

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Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance is a resource for Wisconsinites who need help talking to their insurance company or have a complaint about their health insurance. File a complaint to get help from our experts.
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