Wisconsin's safety net

Posted at 1:18 PM on June 16, 2009 by Bob Collins (0 Comments)
Filed under: Health

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is fond of comparing Minnesota's social service programs with neighboring states -- usually Wisconsin -- to show that the state is overly generous.

Today, he is expected to announce further cuts in health care coverage for the poor. Ironically, it comes at the same time Wisconsin is expanding its state subsidized health care plan to cover adults with no children.

Starting yesterday, the state began enrolling adults with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level guidelines ($1,805 for a single person and $2,428.33 for a married couple) into its Badgercare program.

Under the plan, residents must not have any access to insurance from an employer, and must not be gettingMedicaid or Medicare.

In Minnesota, adults without children can enroll in MinnesotaCare under the General Assistance Medical Care program (GAMC).

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