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  1. Public Health
  2. Health Services
  3. Getting Health Care
  4. Health Insurance Options

Health Insurance Options

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Having health insurance can be key to gaining access to comprehensive care. Without it, it is harder to access care, and is easy to be burdened with large medical bills.

If you can get good, affordable coverage through your job or spouse's job, you should take it. If you don't, you may not be eligible for certain other options.

If you are under 26 years old, you can stay on your parent's insurance. You might also be eligible for BadgerCare Plus or your own Marketplace plan that would save money.


Low-Income Citizens and Immigrants: BadgerCare Plus

​BadgerCare Plus is Medicaid for low income citizens and qualified immigrants, up to age 65. Children and pregnant women are eligible at higher income levels. To find out if anyone in your family is eligible and to apply at any time, call 1-888-794-5556 or go to ACCESS.


Marketplace Insurance Plans

(Also known as Obamacare, Healthcare.gov, or Affordable Care Act)

A special enrollment period is currently open. You can enroll in or change plans from February 15 to May 15, 2021.

  • For more information go to healthcare.gov/  or call 1-800-318-2596.
  • Need Help? Covering Wisconsin provides health coverage options and materials to help find the best insurance for each individual. Call (608) 261-1455 for an appointment or go to Covering Wisconsin .

If you have certain life changes during the year. You will need to sign up for Marketplace Coverage within 60 days of:

  • Loss of coverage: Loss of coverage from a job, COBRA, BadgerCare Plus, student health plan, or turning 26 and losing parent’s insurance
  • Changes in household size: Birth or adoption, marriage, divorce, legal separation, death
  • Immigration: Gain of citizenship or lawful presence in the US
  • Moving: A permanent move out of county that results in access to new plans
  • Release from incarceration or jail

Other events that let you sign up for Marketplace during the year:

  • Tribal Membership: Members of a federally recognized tribe may enroll at any time of the year.
  • Mistake on application: The Marketplace or a professional made a mistake on your application.
  • Hardship: Medical emergency, financial hardship, or victim of domestic violence during Open Enrollment

Need help with paying for insurance? Call 211 or go to United Way of Dane County Health Connect

Health Insurance Options for You and Your Family, Information Sheet from Covering Wisconsin


Seniors and People with Disabilities

Call the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Dane County for information and help to apply: (608) 240-7400.


Children's Long-Term Support Services

Compass Wisconsin: Threshold assists families to apply for all available benefits for children with special health care needs. Call (608) 692-2865 or go to CompassWisconsin.

Getting Health Care

  • Finding Health Care Services
  • Health Insurance Options
  • Medical & Insurance Bill Assistance

Contact Us

  • 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
    Room 507
    Madison, WI 53703
  • Phone: (608) 266-4821
  • Fax: (608) 266-4858
  • Email: health@publichealthmdc.com
  • Español: (608) 243-0380
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Public Health Madison & Dane County Logo

Public Health Madison & Dane County

Office Location & Hours

  • Main Phone: (608) 266-4821
  • Environmental Health Phone:
    (608) 242-6515
  • Fax: (608) 266-4858
  • WI Relay Service and Interpretation Services Available
  • Email Public Health
  • City of Madison, Wisconsin Logo
    City of Madison, Wisconsin
  • Dane County Logo
    County of Dane, Wisconsin

Healthy People. Healthy Places.

Public Health Services are available to all residents and visitors of Madison and Dane County. Citizenship is not a requirement. We provide services regardless of a person's race, color, gender/gender expression, ability, religion, sexual orientation or place of birth/place of residence.

Our Mission


Working with the community to enhance, protect, and promote the health of the environment and the well being of all people.


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