Wisconsin SeniorCare Prescription Assistance
SeniorCare helps Wisconsin residents 65 and older pay for prescription drugs and vaccines. What you pay depends on which of four income levels you fall into.
Any Wisconsin resident 65 or older who is not on full-benefit Medicaid can enroll in SeniorCare for $30 a year. In 2026, a single person with income of $25,536 or less pays $5 for a generic and $15 for a brand-name drug with no deductible. Higher incomes pay a deductible first.
How SeniorCare Works
SeniorCare is run by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. There is no income cap on joining. Your income only decides how much you pay out of pocket before the $5 and $15 copays begin.
You can have SeniorCare with other drug coverage. It coordinates with your other insurance, including Medicare Part B and Part D. The one exception is full-benefit Medicaid, such as BadgerCare Plus. If you have that, you cannot enroll.
2026 Income Levels and What You Pay
| Level | Income, one person | Income, couple | Before copays begin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $25,536 or less | $34,624 or less | Nothing. Copays start right away. |
| 2A | $25,537 to $31,920 | $34,625 to $43,280 | $500 deductible per person |
| 2B | $31,921 to $38,304 | $43,281 to $51,936 | $850 deductible per person |
| 3 | $38,305 or more | $51,937 or more | A spenddown, then an $850 deductible per person |
The levels are set at 160%, 200% and 240% of the federal poverty level, so the dollar figures move a little each year.
At every level, once you are past the deductible you pay $5 for each covered generic drug and $15 for each covered brand-name drug.
What the Deductible and Spenddown Mean
Deductible (levels 2A, 2B and 3). While you are meeting your deductible you do not pay the full pharmacy price. You pay the SeniorCare rate for covered drugs, which is the program's own price and not the pharmacy's retail price. Each purchase counts toward the $500 or $850.
Spenddown (level 3 only). At level 3 you first pay the retail price for your drugs until you have spent a set amount, called the spenddown. After that you meet the $850 deductible at the SeniorCare rate, and then the copays apply. Your spenddown amount depends on your income. SeniorCare Customer Service can tell you yours.
An Example
This is an illustration with made-up drug costs. Take a single person with income of $28,000. That is level 2A.
- She pays the $30 enrollment fee for the year.
- She pays the SeniorCare rate for her prescriptions until those payments add up to $500.
- From then until her coverage year ends, she pays $5 per generic and $15 per brand-name drug.
If her prescriptions cost less than $500 over the year, she never reaches the copays, and her benefit is paying the SeniorCare rate in place of the retail price. If she takes one expensive brand-name drug, she could clear the deductible in the first month or two.
Who Can Enroll
- You are a Wisconsin resident.
- You are a U.S. citizen or a qualifying immigrant.
- You are 65 or older. You can apply in the month you turn 65.
- You are not a member of a full-benefit Medicaid program.
How to Apply
You can apply at any time once you are 65. Coverage starts the month after you apply, and you renew once a year. The fee is $30 per person per year, so a couple pays $60.
For an application or questions, call SeniorCare Customer Service at 800-657-2038, or 711 for TTY.
Go to SeniorCare on dhs.wisconsin.govIf you also have a Medicare Part D plan, our Part D out-of-pocket calculator shows what that plan alone would cost you over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SeniorCare cost?
The enrollment fee is $30 per person per year. After any deductible for your income level, you pay $5 for each covered generic drug and $15 for each covered brand-name drug.
What are the SeniorCare income limits for 2026?
There is no upper income limit. Level 1, with no deductible, is for income of $25,536 or less for one person or $34,624 or less for a couple. Level 2A has a $500 deductible, level 2B an $850 deductible, and level 3, above $38,304 for one person or $51,936 for a couple, has a spenddown and then an $850 deductible.
Can I have SeniorCare and Medicare Part D together?
Yes. SeniorCare coordinates with your other insurance, including Medicare Part B and Part D. You cannot enroll if you are in a full-benefit Medicaid program such as BadgerCare Plus.
When does SeniorCare coverage start?
The month after you apply. You can first apply in the month you turn 65, and you must renew every year.
Sources: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, SeniorCare and SeniorCare Annual Income Limits, checked October 11, 2026. Income limits change each year. Confirm your level with SeniorCare Customer Service before you rely on this page. This site is not affiliated with the State of Wisconsin.