Contact: Emily Miota, 262-853-6863, emiota@kidsforward.org

About One in Three Rural Wisconsin Children Count on Medicaid for Health Care Coverage 

A new report shows just how much Wisconsin families rely on Medicaid/BadgerCare in both rural and urban communities. Medicaid funding helps keep rural hospitals and health care providers afloat and provides a crucial source of care for many nursing home residents, people with disabilities, pregnant people, new moms, and infants.

“Nearly 1.5 million Wisconsin residents live in rural areas and small towns, and Medicaid plays a critical role in ensuring access to health care for these communities,” said William Parke-Sutherland. “Congress is considering enormous funding cuts to Medicaid in the year ahead, and this new report confirms how disastrous this would be for our rural communities and small towns.”

“Medicaid is an absolutely essential program that provides insurance for the majority of patients served at our rural Community Health Center,” shared Ana Tochterman, NorthLake Community Clinic CEO. “Through Medicaid, patients can access affordable preventative medical care, dental, and behavioral health services that keep families healthy. Rural patients face unique challenges like transportation barriers and limited access to resources found in larger communities, and Medicaid is an important tool that enables rural patients to thrive.”

Report findings included:

• 32 percent of children in Wisconsin small towns and rural areas rely on Medicaid/CHIP for their coverage.
• Among Wisconsin adults younger than 65, about 15 percent of those in small towns and rural areas get their coverage through Medicaid/CHIP.
• Among seniors, 12 percent of those living in Wisconsin’s small towns and rural areas get their coverage through Medicaid/CHIP.

“In rural western Wisconsin, Medicaid plays a critical role in ensuring our community members can access essential health services, including primary medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services. At Scenic Bluffs, nearly 45% of our patients rely on Medicaid as the payer for their care—many of whom would be uninsured or unable to afford necessary services without it,” shared Kim Hawthorne, CEO for Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers. “This support is especially crucial given the financial challenges faced by our patients: 52% live at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, navigating significant barriers such as financial strain, limited transportation options, and geographic isolation. Medicaid provides a safety net that not only improves health outcomes but also strengthens the overall well-being of our rural communities.”

For the full report, as well as interactive maps featuring a county-level breakdown of Medicaid coverage, visit https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/01/15/medicaids-role-in-small-towns-and-rural-areas/. This report primarily relies on data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (ACS).

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The Center for Children & Families (CCF), part of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, is an independent, nonpartisan policy and research center founded in 2005.

Kids Forward inspires action and promotes access to opportunity for every kid, every family, and every community in Wisconsin, notably children and families of color and those furthest from opportunity. We envision a Wisconsin where every child thrives.