Public Benefit Programs Resource: 

BadgerCare Description: BadgerCare is Wisconsin's program to provide health care for low-income families with children under age 19. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/badgercare/index.htm or call 1-800-362-3002 

Resource: Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP) Description: HIRSP offers health insurance to Wisconsin residents who, due to their medical conditions, are unable to find adequate health insurance coverage in the private market. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/hirsp/index.htm or call (800) 828-4777 

Resource: Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP) Description: WWWP provides preventive health screening services to women with little or no health insurance coverage. Well Woman pays for mammograms, Pap tests and certain other health screenings. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/DPH_BCDHP/WWWP/index.htm or call 1-800-218-8408. 

Resource: Senior Care Description: Senior Care is a new Prescription Drug Assistance Program for Wisconsin residents who are 65 years of age or older who meet the eligibility criteria. The program is designed to help seniors with their prescription drug costs. The program begins in September 2002. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/seniorcare/index.htm 

Resource: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Description: SSDI provides monetary and medical benefits for people who are found to be disabled and who have also met the non-disability requirements of contributing to the Social Security Trust Fund through tax on their earnings. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/ddb/index.htm, http://www.ssa.gov/disability, or contact your local Social Security Administration office at (608) 754-1341. 

Resource: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Description: SSI provides monetary and medical benefits to adults and children who are blind or disabled and who have also met the non-disability income and resources requirements. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/ddb/index.htm, http://www.ssa.gov/disability, or contact your local Social Security Administration office at (608) 754-1341. 

Resource: Medicaid (also known as Medical Assistance or MA) Description: Medicaid provides healthcare benefits for some people with disabilities who meet the programs' financial requirements. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/medicaid/index.htm, http://www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/medicaid.htm, or contact your local county health and human service department at (608) 328-9393. 

Resource: Medicare Description: Medicare is a federal Health Insurance Program for people 65 years of age and older, some disabled people under 65 years of age, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant). Additional Information: http://www.medicare.gov/Basics/Overview.asp 

Resource: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) Description: DHFS is the state agency responsible for managing Wisconsin's public health care programs. Additional Information: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/programs.htm 

Private Resources and Advocates 

Resource: ABC for Health Description: ABC for Health is a private Wisconsin organization that helps families with children under the age of 19 and pregnant women solve problems paying for health care. Additional Information: http://www.abcforhealth.org/, or call 1-800-585-4222 

Resource: Pharmaceutical Company Assistance Programs Description: Many pharmaceutical companies have begun to offer free or reduced priced drugs to people who meet certain resource requirements. Additional Information: http://www.needymeds.com/, or talk to your doctor about programs that may work for you. 

Legislative and Policy Information 

Resource: Families USA Description: Families USA is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans. Additional Information: http://www.familiesusa.org/html/about/about.htm 

Resource: Wisconsin Citizen Action (WCA) Description: WCA is the state's premier public interest organization, dedicated to social, economic and environmental justice for all. Citizen Action unites the political clout of its 65,000 individual members and 255 affiliate organizations into a significant grassroots force for social change around key issues (including health) and elections in Wisconsin. Additional Information: http://www.wi-citizenaction.org 

Resource: Covering the Uninsured Description: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other major national organizations are the co-sponsors of Covering the Uninsured - a major public education campaign to raise awareness of the consequences of being uninsured in the United States and to seek solutions for the 39 million Americans who have no health insurance. Additional Information: http://coveringtheuninsured.org/ 

Elected Officials 

Resource: Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin Description: Congresswoman Baldwin is the U.S. Representative to the 2nd Congressional District of Wisconsin. Federal representatives have oversight of federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Additional Information: http://tammybaldwin.house.gov/index.asp or call (608) 258-9800 

Resource: Senator Russ Feingold Description: Senator Feingold is one of two U.S. Senators who serve Wisconsin. Federal representatives have oversight of federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Additional Information: http://feingold.senate.gov or call (608) 828-1200 

Resource: Senator Herb Kohl Description: Senator Kohl is one of two U.S. Senators who serve Wisconsin. Federal representatives have oversight of federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Additional Information: http://kohl.senate.gov or call (608) 264-5338 

Resource: State Senator Jon Erpenbach Description: State Senator Erpenbach represents the 27th State Senate District in Wisconsin. State representatives have oversight of state agencies such as the Department of Health and Family Services. Additional Information: contact (608) 266-6670 

Resource: State Representative Rick Skindrud Description: State Representative Skindrud represents the 80th State Assembly District in Wisconsin. State representatives have oversight of state agencies such as the Department of Health and Family Services Additional Information: contact (608) 266-3520 

Copyright 2002 Jim Salter
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Last updated: May 16, 2002.