What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a state and federally funded health insurance program that provides coverage for individuals and families living in poverty, seniors, people with disabilities, and children. In Wisconsin, the Medicaid program is known as BadgerCare Plus, which helps eligible residents access essential medical, dental, and mental health care. Medicaid provides health insurance to more than 77.9 million Americans and is therefore the single largest source of health coverage in the United States.
Who in Sheboygan County Relies on Medicaid?
In Sheboygan County, more than 16,000 of our neighbors depend on Medicaid for their health care. According to the State of Wisconsin's reports on Medicaid enrollment (March 2025), that includes over 5,500 children, nearly 2,800 low-income adults, and 3,500 elderly and disabled individuals. These are not just numbers. These are our coworkers, our children’s classmates, our parents and grandparents.
As Congress considers a federal budget proposal that includes potentially significant cuts to Medicaid, the implications for local communities like ours are too significant to ignore. For Sheboygan County, these cuts wouldn’t be abstract — they would be felt in classrooms, workplaces, hospitals and clinics.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the March 2025 enrollment data for Sheboygan County alone shows:
- 5,541 children covered under Medicaid
- 2,796 low-income childless adults enrolled in BadgerCare Plus
- 3,583 elderly and disabled individuals relying on essential coverage
- 236 children enrolled through Katie Beckett, a Medicaid program that covers children with long-term disabilities or complex medical needs, regardless of their parents’ income. The program and allows these children to receive care in their homes rather than in a medical treatment facility.
- More than 16,000 individuals in the county enrolled across all Medicaid programs
These programs provide access to doctor visits, prescription medications, hospital care, mental health services, and preventive care — services that help stabilize families and improve long-term outcomes.
Mental Health: A Sheboygan County Priority
One area where Medicaid plays a particularly critical role is in mental health care, especially for youth. In 2015, United Way of Sheboygan County launched the Providing Access to Healing (PATH) program in response to rising rates of youth depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The goal: bring licensed mental health therapists into schools so that children and teens could access care where and when they need it most.
Since its creation, PATH has provided tens of thousands of in-school therapy sessions, removing barriers such as transportation and in many cases, cost. Last school year, our program served more than 600 students across 9 public school districts and # parochial schools, with many more on a waitlist. For many students in the program, BadgerCare/Medicaid is their primary or only form of health insurance.
Mental health is a critical — yet often overlooked — factor in a child’s ability to thrive in school. Nationally, nearly one in five high school students report missing school due to anxiety, depression, or related mental health concerns. In Sheboygan County, many families rely on Medicaid (BadgerCare Plus) to access mental health care for their children. Programs like United Way’s Providing Access to Healing (PATH), which brings licensed therapists directly into schools, are made possible in part because students are covered by Medicaid. For these youth, access to therapy is more than a service — it’s a lifeline that helps them stay in school.
Cutting Medicaid means cutting off lifelines. It means fewer sessions, longer waitlists, and more children slipping through the cracks during the most vulnerable times in their lives.
When Health Care Is Accessible, Everyone Benefits
When residents have access to health care, including mental health care, communities thrive. Children are more likely to attend school regularly. Adults are better able to maintain employment. Seniors stay healthier longer and avoid preventable hospitalizations. Medicaid coverage doesn’t just improve individual outcomes — it reduces strain on emergency rooms, school systems, and local nonprofits.
Local organizations, like Lakeshore Community Health Care and countless others, play an essential role in this system. As a federally qualified health center, Lakeshore provides medical, dental, and mental health services to thousands of residents of Manitowoc, Washington and Sheboygan counties, many of whom are covered by Medicaid. Federal cuts would jeopardize their ability to meet community demand and continue serving all who need care.
What United Way Believes
At United Way of Sheboygan County, we are not a political organization. But we are deeply committed to the health, education, and financial security of every person in our community. We believe that protecting access to health care— especially for those most vulnerable — is a matter of both compassion and long-term stability of our community.
We also believe in facts. The fact is, thousands of local lives are touched by Medicaid every single day. We cannot afford to let these voices go unheard.
What You Can Do?
- Stay informed about how Medicaid funding affects our state and county.
- Share the facts with friends, family, and colleagues about how Medicaid effects Sheboygan County and Wisconsin residents.
- Send a message to local lawmakers and ask them to protect Medicaid funding. A postcard can be more powerful than a phone call or email, as it is a physical representation of your voice!
- Support local non-profit organizations like that are on the front lines.
If we want a stronger, healthier Sheboygan County, we must protect the systems that support our neighbors when they need it most.
