Round Up: As Wisconsin Democrats Warn Of Skyrocketing ACA Premiums, Wisconsin Republicans Stay Silent

MADISON, Wis. — Yesterday, Governor Tony Evers, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Representative Mark Pocan, and Representative Gwen Moore held a press call highlighting that Wisconsinites could see their health care premiums skyrocket by up to 800% if ACA tax credits are not extended. These tax credits are at the center of the ongoing government shutdown, being the very reason Republicans are refusing to reopen the government.

Despite these alarming numbers, Wisconsin Republicans like Tom Tiffany, Derrick Van Orden, and Bryan Steil have remained silent. Each of them represents communities where families could face devastating cost increases of roughly $17,000 a year if they continue their crusade to withhold vital ACA funding.

Read more coverage below:

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Premiums are set to skyrocket for many Wisconsin residents who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, according to new projections released by the Evers administration. The cost increases are expected to materialize next year if some Obamacare subsidies are not extended beyond December — a move Democrats are demanding Republicans include in any new bill to fund the government.”

Wisconsin Examiner: “The rates for health care coverage purchased on HealthCare.gov in Wisconsin will rise by anywhere from 45% to 800% for 2026, depending on where a person lives, Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday. The increased rates will be made worse with the end of enhanced federal subsidies, provided in the form of tax credits, that have lowered insurance costs through the marketplace since 2021. The enhanced subsidies expire at the end of December, Evers and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) said during a virtual press conference Monday morning.”

Wisconsin State Journal: “Premiums for 275,000 Wisconsinites enrolled in the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace could rise by hundreds of dollars a month next year if Congress allows tax credits meant to keep plans affordable to expire, according to projections the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance released Monday…A family of four across the state making $130,000 can expect monthly premium increases of more than $1,000; for a 60-year-old couple, their monthly premiums could jump between $1,600 and $2,700 a month. A 26-year-old who is on their first health insurance plan will see a monthly increase of between $111 and $178.”

WMTV (Madison): “Governor Tony Evers and Nathan Houdek, Office of the Commissioner of Insurance Commissioner, announced Monday that 2026 plan year rates for Wisconsin’s healthcare coverage costs are expected to ‘skyrocket’ if Republicans in Congress do not extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. Officials say that the approved increase rates, along with ‘significant consequences’ of Congressional Republicans failing to extend ACA premium tax credits, could have some Wisconsin seniors paying an increase of over $30,000 per year. Many Wisconsinites and their families are expected to see their premiums double.”

The New Republic: “Open enrollment for the subsidized coverage is just days away, but failing to extend the premium tax credits could raise premiums by thousands of dollars a year for people within the affected income bracket all over the country. In Wisconsin, those hardest hit could see their premiums rise by more than $30,000 per year, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers warned Monday. Age and residency also factor into eligibility for the credits. In Barron County, a 60-year-old couple making $85,000 could see their premiums rise by 800 percent to an annual increase of more than $33,000.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.