Statement on the Potential Withholding of Wisconsin’s ACA Cost Sharing Reductions

MADISON — As Governor Walker continues to delegate his responsibility to ensuring Wisconsinites basic healthcare coverage, the Federal CBO released a report earlier today stating that ending the Cost Sharing Reductions for insurers will result in the increase of premiums by 20% in 2018 and 25% by 2020 all the while increasing our nation’s deficit by $194 billion.

Recently, Senate Republicans came to a bipartisan understanding that eliminating the ability for lower health care deductibles would be a disaster for hard working families, not just in Wisconsin, but across the country.

GOP Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Lamar Alexander, said: “Without payment of these cost-sharing reductions, Americans will be hurt. Up to half of the states will likely have bare counties with zero insurance providers offering insurance on the exchanges, and insurance premiums will increase by roughly 20%, according to America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).”

Senator Mike Rounds, (R-SD), also commented: “I think the president still needs to, in the short term, give us the opportunity to still succeed at a healthcare reform package. That means allowing the cost sharing arrangements to continue for a period of time.”

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair, Martha Laning stated, “Walker sabotaged Wisconsinites healthcare by not accepting Medicaid expansion in the first place, put an unnecessary burden on the pocket-books of hard-working families — now the Trump/Walker scheme will add a Premium Tax to our healthcare system, and in some cases will leave consumers without any form of available health insurance coverage.

“As Walker continues to play politics on the backs of working families, we need to gather around a genuine bipartisan dialogue to reach a responsible solution to improve and strengthen the current health care law.”

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.