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2.2.6 Child A child younger than 19 years old is nonfinancially eligible for BadgerCare Plus. Marital status and school enrollment status have no effect on their nonfinancial eligibility. The child does not have to be under the care of or related to the caretaker to be eligible for BadgerCare Plus. Note A child younger than 19 years old residing with a caretaker relative may not apply as the primary person for the relative’s benefits. For both a caretaker relative and a child to be included in one case, the caretaker relative must apply for BadgerCare Plus. A child younger than 19 years old residing with a parent may not apply separately from their parent. In addition, the parent must apply as the primary person for the case, unless the child filing the application is age 18. People older than 19 years old must always apply separately from their parents or caretakers, irrespective of their living arrangement or tax dependency. A child who has not been determined disabled must have their eligibility determined under BadgerCare Plus, not Medicaid for Elderly, Blind, or Disabled individuals (EBD Medicaid), even if the child has resided in an institution for 30 or more days. 2.2.7 Childless Adults A childless adult is a person 19 to 64 years old who meets both of the following criteria: • Is not receiving Medicare, except Medicare Part B Immunosuppressive Drug Benefit (Part B-ID). • Does not have any dependent children younger than 19 years old who reside with them at least 40% of the time. Marital status has no effect on a person being a childless adult. This page last updated in Release Number: 26-03 Release Date: 08/12/2026 Effective Date: 06/20/2026 2.3 Modified Adjusted Gross Income Test Groups BadgerCare Plus eligibility determinations use Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules. MAGI rules are based on the concept of a person’s tax household, not necessarily on the physical household or family relationships. 2.3.1 Forming the Test Group Using Modified Adjusted Gross Income Tax Filing Rules All MAGI groups are based on a “target” person. Each person who can become eligible for BadgerCare Plus on the application will be a target during the eligibility determination for a case. 2.3.1.1 Tax Filers If the person is a tax filer and is not being claimed as a dependent by anyone else, then the person’s MAGI group consists of the tax filer, the tax filer’s spouse, and any dependents the tax filer is claiming. If there is a pregnant woman in the group, include the number of expected babies in the group size. Verification of the number of expected babies is not required unless questionable. If the number of babies is unknown, add one to the group size. In general, a person cannot be claimed as a tax dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico.