Contact: Sarah Abel, Phone: 202-225-5506, Sarah.Abel@mail.house.gov
LA CROSSE — Rep. Ron Kind marked the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) becoming the law by highlighting the health care savings for working families in Wisconsin thanks to the American Rescue Plan. The plan builds on the ACA by lowering the cost of coverage and expanding eligibility for federal subsidies to thousands of Wisconsinites.
“For 11 years, the Affordable Care Act has provided millions of Wisconsinites with access to affordable, quality health care coverage. This pandemic has underlined the critical role the Affordable Care Act has played in helping thousands of Wisconsinites and millions of Americans have access to lifesaving benefits and protections,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “With the signing of the American Rescue plan, the Affordable Care Act’s quality, affordable coverage is more affordable and more accessible for Wisconsinites and their families.”
Under the American Rescue Plan’s affordability enhancements for the Affordable Care Act, Wisconsinites who purchase health insurance through the ACA Marketplace won’t have to pay more than 8.5 percent of their household income for a benchmark silver plan. For Wisconsin, the American Rescue Plan will:
- Provide Wisconsin with more than $1 billion in federal funding if the state expands BadgerCare.
- Create significant savings for many Wisconsinites in the Marketplaces. For example, a 60-year-old couple earning $75,000 per year, under the American Rescue Plan, will see their health insurance premium payments lowered by $1,410 per month.
- Increase ACA subsidies for 31,600 Wisconsinites who already qualify.
- Make 51,900 currently uninsured Wisconsinites newly eligible for subsidies–making their health coverage more affordable.
These improvements build on the landmark protections the Affordable Care Act established for all Americans no matter where they get health coverage, including:
- Protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions;
- An end to insurance companies charging women more than men for the same coverage;
- Prevents insurers from placing annual and lifetime caps on coverage;
- Guaranteed essential health benefits including requirements that insurance companies cover prescription drugs and maternity care;
- Key support for rural hospitals;
- Lower prescription drug costs for nearly 12 million seniors; and
- Allows young people to stay on their parent’s health insurance until age 26.
