MADISON — On Aug. 4, 2023, Wisconsin State Senator Howard Marklein shared a graphic from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Medicaid Renewal Data Dashboard. The graph shows total enrollment in the Wisconsin Medicaid program from January 2018 — June 2023.

During the federal COVID-19 public health emergency, the federal government prohibited states from removing individuals from the Medicaid program — even if an individual was no longer eligible. This was known as continuous enrollment. This policy ended on March 31, 2023.

Beginning on June 1, 2023, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) resumed the process of eligibility determinations for persons enrolled in the Medicaid program. This process will take one year and is often referred to as “unwinding”.  

Total enrollment includes BadgerCare Plus, the Elderly/Blind/Disabled Program, and other benefit groups such as the Well Woman Program.