Gov. Evers: If Congress doesn’t continue ACA tax credits, some Wisconsinites’ health insurance could rise by $30,000 in 2026

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Some Wisconsinites’ healthcare premiums could skyrocket if Congress doesn’t continue the Affordable Care Act tax subsidies. The program is the biggest sticking point for Democrats in the government shutdown. 

People who buy health insurance through the healthcare.gov marketplace can qualify for what are essentially discounts on their insurance, using tax credits, to make it more affordable. Often, they’re people without an employer who offers healthcare coverage, like people who are self-employed, contractors, and farmers. Those tax credits were last passed in 2021 and are set to expire at the end of the year. If they expire, healthcare coverage would get more expensive for tens of millions of Americans. 

Here in Wisconsin, about 313,000 people have plans they bought on the marketplace. According to data released by Gov. Tony Evers (D – WI) and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D – WI), 88 percent of those people qualified for a tax credit. On average, those tax credits saved each Wisconsinite getting insurance $664 per month. 

“A middle class family of four in Wausau will see their premium more than double, going from $886 a month to more than $2,300 a month,” Evers said in a virtual press conference Monday. “A 60-year-old couple in Rice Lake making about $85,000 a year would see their premium rocket only 800%. That’s an annual increase of over $30,000 in costs.” 

That’s just for the insurance premium to have insurance. The other big chunk of healthcare expenses comes with the care itself: what people pay for prescriptions, doctor’s appointments, procedures, and visits to the emergency room.

Democrats in Congress have said they won’t agree to end the shutdown unless the tax credits will continue. Republicans have said they’d consider extending the tax credits after reopening the government. GOP lawmakers have long criticized the Affordable Care Act, but so far, do not have a cohesive alternative, according to ABC News. 

“I would be the first to say that our healthcare system is broken. For too many, healthcare is simply too expensive,” Baldwin said. “These Wisconsinites have to put a budget together every month … where are [they] supposed to get that money? Rent and food is a must, so what’s on the chopping block? Do they forego extracurricular sports for their kids? Do they sell their car? Do they pull it out of their retirement account? These are stories that I’m hearing over and over again.” 

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D – WI) said he’s received an overwhelming amount of feedback from constituents about healthcare costs. 

“I’ve had about 100 people a week reach out to me about the shutdown,” Pocan said. “But I’ve had 15,742 people this year alone reach out about healthcare. This is important for every single family in Wisconsin.” 

Open enrollment begins on Saturday, Nov. 1, so many people are about to begin the process of choosing next year’s plan. They’re looking at these higher costs now. Many have been notified of how much more expensive their insurance will be should they pick the same coverage they currently have. 

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D – WI) said she worries more people will simply choose not to have insurance at all. 

“We’re going to see some families like this take some risks, and simply drop their coverage for their family, and just cross their fingers and pray,” Moore said. “[They’ll say] well I’m only 47 and 48, and our kids are young, maybe we can just get by and show up in the emergency room if something really goes bad.” 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 78 percent of people support continuing the Affordable Care Act tax credits. It’s also popular among Republicans surveyed: 59 percent of them said they support continuing the program.

Data shows when more people are uninsured, costs go up for everyone. Healthcare providers and systems, the government, and charities end up absorbing the cost of uninsured care.