Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler Slams Trump’s Attacks on Health Care on ACA Anniversary

MADISON, Wis. — Today, on the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement highlighting what’s at stake for health care this November:

“Millions of Americans have relied on the Affordable Care Act for the health care coverage they need for 14 years now—but if Donald Trump gets another term, he’ll rip away the coverage Wisconsin families have come to rely on. Trump was only one vote away from repealing the ACA when he was in office, and he hasn’t let up his efforts to eliminate Americans’ health care ever since. Trump wants to eliminate protections for Wisconsinites with preexisting conditions, cause health care costs to go through the roof, and make uninsurance rates skyrocket—and we can’t let him win. If Trump gets a second term, there’s no question he will try to destroy the lifesaving program once and for all.

“The choice this November is stark between President Biden, who has bolstered the Affordable Care Act and brought down costs, leading to a record 21 million people gaining coverage through the ACA this year alone, and Donald Trump, who isn’t celebrating any of that. Trump sees it as a problem, and is campaigning to take our country backwards and devastate Wisconsinites’ health. The fate of the Affordable Care Act is on the line, and the only way to protect our health care is to reelect President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Senator Baldwin this November.”

Donald Trump is promising to repeal the Affordable Care Act and gut Wisconsinites’ health care. If he gets the chance, Trump’s plans would:

• Threaten health care protections for as many as 100 million Americans with preexisting conditions like cancer, asthma, and diabetes—including over 800,000 Wisconsinites;
• Raise premiums and health care costs by thousands of dollars a year for millions of Americans;
• Raise seniors’ prescription drug costs by hundreds of dollars per year;
• Jeopardize free preventive care like cancer screenings, annual check-ups, and cholesterol tests for 150 million Americans;
• Cause uninsurance rates for communities of color to skyrocket;
• Kick millions of young people off their parents’ coverage;
• And take away access to mental health care or substance use treatment for millions.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.