http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/healthcare2-s5.jpgLatest enrollment numbers prove decision to force thousands of low income residents off BadgerCare and into the private market has created a new coverage gap for 38,000 in Wisconsin.

STATEWIDE - Enrollment numbers released today by the Walker Administration show that over 60% of the roughly 63,000 Wisconsin residents kicked off BadgerCare were unable to sign up for Marketplace coverage by the June deadline. Citizen Action has long argued that this policy of denying affordable health coverage will have dire ramifications for the rest of the state.

Despite Governor Walker’s talking points to the contrary, these new numbers prove that Wisconsin does in fact have a large coverage gap for tens of thousands of residents. Roughly 38,000 residents will be barred from accessing marketplace coverage at Healthcare.gov in 2014 and are ineligible for BadgerCare because of the Governor’s policies.

The Governor and the Legislature’s decision to reject up to $1 million federal Medicaid dollars a day and force thousands off BadgerCare must be reversed. The State has the opportunity to accept the federal Medicaid funds at any time. Failure to do so means thousands will needlessly go without access to preventive services and vital treatments.

“These shocking numbers quantify the human toll of Walker’s reckless healthcare policies,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin.

“Governor Walker must accept that his policy is a failure and has only led to higher costs to the State, higher insurance premiums and now left tens of thousands stuck in a new coverage gap,” said Kevin Kane, Lead Organizer of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “Because of this politically motivated decision, some of Wisconsin’s most hard pressed working families will be forced to choose between health care, food, rent, and other basics.”