From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Gov. Tony Evers is urging Republicans in Congress to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits as thousands of state residents are selecting ACA plans during the ongoing open enrollment period.
“For God’s sakes, Congress has got to do something,” the Dem guv said today during an online news conference hosted by Protect Our Care Wisconsin. “They just cannot decide, ‘Well we don’t care about these people,’ it’s just a ridiculous position to take. So we’ll continue to fight for it.”
He argued the recent government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, was “all because Republicans refused to work with Democrats” to extend the ACA enhanced tax credits that are expiring at the end of the year.
Evers added 88% of state residents who enrolled in ACA plans for 2025 qualified for these tax credits, saving $664 on average per month.
“Folks, these tax credits are not luxuries, they are lifelines that make the difference between kids and families and communities getting care, or going without it … Without these enhanced tax credits, health care premiums for Wisconsinites are going to skyrocket, period,” he said. “Many Wisconsinites will see their premiums double, and some will see staggering increases of over $30,000 a year.”
Despite the higher premiums many enrollees are expected to pay without the tax credit extension, ACA open enrollment in Wisconsin is proceeding in line with last year’s pace, though slower than the year before that.
As of Dec. 5, state residents had made 84,398 ACA plan selections through the HealthCare.gov individual market, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. At the same time last year, that number was slightly higher at 88,189. In the prior year, the state had 99,950 sign-ups by this point.
Protect Our Care Wisconsin Director Joe Zepecki noted ACA plans must be selected by Dec. 15 to obtain coverage starting Jan. 1, though the open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15. He also echoed Evers’ call to action on extending the tax credits.
“This is among the easiest, most straightforward things that Congress could do,” he said today. “They could do it within 48 hours, put the bill on the floor, clean extension, vote it, get it to the president’s desk. And one of the economic calamities that this country is facing next year will be addressed.”
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