Protect Our Care’s March Madness Campaign is Amplifying How the ACA is Under Attack
WISCONSIN – Today, Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and Wisconsinites impacted by the GOP War on Health Care joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin to mark the 16th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and hold Republicans accountable for waging an all-out assault on working families’ access to affordable, quality health care.
The ACA has saved lives and survived countless attempts at repeal, but Republicans are still undermining the historic law. This year, Republicans caused premiums to more than double by eliminating the enhanced premium tax credits, and as a direct result, more than 20,000 Wisconsinites dropped their ACA coverage during the 2026 open enrollment period. Speakers discussed the devastating consequences of forcing families to choose between health care and other essential expenses, and call upon their elected officials to reinstate the tax credits.
The ACA has helped Wisconsinites in myriad ways since becoming law – expanding access to health insurance coverage, ensuring access to health plans for those with pre-existing conditions, and making certain that essential benefits like preventative care and prescription drugs are covered. Last year, more people relied on the ACA than ever before, but Republicans still want to make health care unaffordable in order to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. Without the tax credits, too many will forgo routine doctor’s visits, public health outcomes will worsen, and more families will go into medical debt.
”Since the beginning of 2026, some Wisconsinites have seen premiums double, even triple, as they now are forced to decide between keeping their coverage or paying for food, groceries, and childcare,” said Lt. Governor Rodriguez. “These cuts to the ACA don’t just impact patients – our healthcare workforce is feeling the strain too.”
“The ACA was my lifeline,” said Jessica Seawright, a working mom whose son relies on Katie Beckett Medicaid support. “Because of that (support), my husband and I don’t have to choose between critical medication for our son and filing for bankruptcy.”
“We’re really struggling with staffing right now,” said Courtney Zwick, a Green County childcare provider, citing young adults leaving the childcare workforce due to the difficulty of accessing health insurance. “Not having access to affordable care leads to people leaving the businesses that people rely on.”
“In 2024, Amazon paid $9 billion in taxes, for 2025, after the OBBB passed, their tax burden was $1.2 billion. That’s a $7.8 billion giveaway to Amazon despite their profits increasing,” said Protect our Care Wisconsin Director Joe Zepecki. “When you hear people say that Republicans in Washington chose massive tax giveaways at the expense of working families being able to afford care, that’s what we’re talking about.”
You can watch the full event here, and learn more about Trump’s all-out assault on health care here.
