Health care in Minnesota/Wisconsin? (Superior: low income, apartment, home)

[oatmealia]

(I apologize, but I posted this on the Minnesota forum too. I don't like to cross-post, but I could use all the help I can get!)

Hello! As I posted in a different thread, my fiance and I are planning on moving to the Duluth/Superior area this fall. We will both be going to the University of Wisconsin - Superior. Up until this point we were both covered for health care on our parents' plans, but getting married will end this coverage. We're trying to decide between three different areas to live-- "non-traditional" family dorms in Superior, an apartment in Duluth, or an apartment in Superior. We know that if we stay in Minnesota, we can apply for Minnesota Care as long as our income is less than the cap amount (which it will for a couple years). We've been thinking of this as a pretty strong incentive to live in Duluth, but as we thought about it we realized we didn't really know much about Wisconsin health care and the methods and effects of becoming a Wisconsin resident. So, I have a few questions which all relate to the same theme:

1. How does residency work? We've never moved out of state before. Do we have to become Wisconsin residents after living in Wisconsin for a certain period of time? Does this not apply for those living in college dormitories?
2. What kind of health care programs does Wisconsin have? Will we be able to get affordable health care in Wisconsin as a low income married couple?
3. Is Minnesota Care a strong enough incentive to keep us in Minnesota? Or is it not the life-saving program that it seems to be from the outside?
4. Does anyone know about university health programs? Does UWS offer any kind of benefits or services to students that help with health care? I'm having a hard time finding any information on their website.

Thanks so much for reading! Any and all help will be appreciated.

[geekduo]

Wisconsin has Badgercare for low-income people who don't have access to healthcare or can't afford it. However, I don't think they offer help unless you have children or are pregnant. Wisconsin BadgerCare Home Page (broken link)
The University of Wisconsin system does have basic services for it's students. I remember being able to get things like a strep test and basic check-ups with my student ID. You should check with the university to get the details of what they cover.
Hope this helps!

Another consideration, the state income tax in WI is lower than in MN.

[berries]

stay healthy and dont worrysomuch about that darned healh care. sorry but no one used to worry about this much. Everyone has become such ninnies about this health care stuff that they base life decisions on it all the time worrying about dying. It does not make sense. Live your life and when your not supposed to anymore...you won't and no amount of health care can help. It is not health care anyway...IT IS SICK care...so it is easy stay or get healthy and don't worry so much...YOUR YOUNG!!!!!!