Unwinding

Unwinding is the term used to describe the steps states must take to re-establish regular eligibility, enrollment, and benefits management processes after the federally declared COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends and or after the regulations put in place with the new 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CCA). 

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Since early 2020, special rules have been in place pausing BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid renewals and terminations. These rules have allowed members to keep their health insurance even if there is a change to their situation--like their household size or income--that would normally make them lose their eligibility. 

The federal government recently passed a bill that will end the policy of continuous Medicaid eligibility on March 31, 2023. This means that beginning on April 1, new applicants to BadgerCare Plus and Wisconsin Medicaid programs will be covered by regular eligibility rules. 

This change will NOT END coverage for any current members. Instead, it begins a 14-month process of “unwinding" this rule for Wisconsin’s Medicaid and BadgerCare programs and a return to regular program rules. For most members, this unwinding means they will need to go through a renewal process at some point during the next year. Members will receive a notice with their renewal date. It is not recommended that members renew early and wait until the date on their notice for the renewal.

 Resources and Links 

Stay informed about the Unwinding efforts. Register for the DMS-Medicaid Unwinding Communications listserv HERE. 

DHS Unwinding Partner Toolkit 

DHS COVID-19: Information for Health Care Programs 

Information Sheets:

• MyAccess (English)
  • MyAccess (Spanish)
• BadgerCare (English)
  • BadgerCare (Spanish)
• FoodShare (English)
  • FoodShare (Spanish)