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• By mail using a paper application A person can also apply through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM). This page last updated in Release Number: 23-03 Release Date: 08/14/2023 Effective Date: 01/01/2023 1.2 Continuous Coverage for Qualifying Children On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, was signed into law. This legislation requires that children in certain Medicaid programs and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are provided with 12 months of continuous health care coverage, with some limited exceptions, effective January 1, 2024. Continuous coverage means that the child will not lose coverage during that time period, even if the family’s situation changes. 1.2.1 Continuous Coverage Period Effective January 1, 2024, most children under age 19 enrolled in BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid programs will have 12 months of continuous coverage, starting with the month of their health care application, new certification period at renewal, or when the child otherwise becomes eligible under a qualifying group. This also applies when a new child under 19 is added to a case that already has a child with 12 months of continuous coverage. Example 1 Jane applies for health care for her and her son Sam on January 17, 2024, with a three month backdate, and they are determined eligible for BadgerCare Plus as of October 1, 2023. Sam will have continuous coverage from January 1 through December 31, 2024. If the household has a change in circumstances during the certification period, Jane may lose coverage, but Sam will remain eligible through December 31, 2024. Note Backdated months do not count toward the 12-month continuous coverage period. To qualify for a 12- month continuous coverage period, a child must be eligible for the application month and/or a following month. If a child is only eligible in a backdated month, they do not qualify for a 12-month continuous coverage period Children who are already members of an applicable health care program on January 1, 2024, will have a continuous coverage period that extends to their next renewal date. Example 2 Juan, age 17, was enrolled in BadgerCare Plus in May 2023. He is still enrolled as of January 1, 2024, so he will have continuous coverage from January 1, 2024, to his renewal date of April 30, 2024. Even if the household reports a change and the household’s income goes above the program income limit, he will remain eligible through April 30, 2024. At renewal, a child must meet the program’s eligibility requirements in order to get a new 12-month period of continuous coverage. Example 3 Gino is 16 and has been enrolled in Medicaid since May 2020. Gino’s renewal is due in March 2024. Because Gino is enrolled as of January 1, 2024, he also has continuous coverage until his renewal in March 2024. At renewal, Gino’s household income is over 306% of the federal poverty level. He no longer meets program rules, so his health care benefits end March 31, 2024. He does not qualify for a new 12-month continuous coverage period. 1.2.2 Populations Children under age 19 in the following programs are eligible for 12 months of continuous coverage: