One Year of Postpartum Coverage and What It Means for Wisconsin Families

On March 18, 2026, Governor Tony Evers signed legislation extending postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a full year, and Wisconsin joined 48 other state in making this standard available to low-income families. The Assembly voted 95 to 1 to pass it. That kind of bipartisan support tells you something important: keeping new parents healthy after birth is not a political issue - it is a health issue.

Close to half of all pregnancy-related deaths occur in the postpartum period, and 95% are considered preventable. Twelve months of coverage means new parents can follow up on chronic conditions, access mental health care, and stay connected to their providers during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. Healthy parents raise healthy families. This law makes that more possible for thousands of Wisconsin families every year, with expanded coverage available beginning July 1, 2026.

Read the full story here.

Read Senate Bill 23 here.