MILWAUKEE, WI — Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director Joseph Palm, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley joined advocates and Protect Our Care Wisconsin to discuss the upcoming ACA Open Enrollment 2023 period, which opened on November 1, 2022 and provided Wisconsinites with the resources they need to enroll in quality, affordable coverage.
The Inflation Reduction Act will keep health care costs low for Wisconsinites enrolling in ACA marketplace plans this year. It is historic legislation that reduces health care premiums for 13 million families purchasing coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. On average, families will save thousands of dollars a year on health care, giving them much-needed breathing room to pay for other essentials like rent, groceries, and gas. These savings are a game-changer for Wisconsinites — saving an average middle class family of four in the state more than $6,000 on their yearly premiums.
“Milwaukee County’s vision is to become the healthiest county in the state of Wisconsin by achieving both race and health equity,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as he urged residents to get covered. The County Executive went on to note that under the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act, “Many consumers who have health insurance plans through healthcare.gov will continue to save money on their premiums.”
Marketplace consumer and retired MPS educator LaVonda Stewart-Whitley is one of the more than 200,000 Wisconsinites covered through the marketplace in 2021. Finding herself in the years between retirement and Medicare eligibility Ms. Stewart-Whitley encouraged everyone to get covered, “The marketplace, the whole healthcare program, it IS worthwhile!”
“We are happy to help and can answer any questions folks have about all of the health plans,” said Nicholas Duke, a navigator with Covering Wisconsin. “We get training every year on all of the new changes to the Affordable Care Act as well as qualified health plans.”
“When illness or a major injury happens in our health care system, health insurance is a ticket that opens the door to high quality care that can save your life and protect all of the things you have,” said Joseph Palm, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director for Region 7. “Get covered. We want you to be as healthy as possible. That is why we are here.”
With the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden and Democrats have made history and delivered on their promise to lower health care costs and rein in high drug prices — a stark contrast from every Republican who voted no. After years of battling high healthcare costs, this year Wisconsinites will save on quality, affordable health plans.
You can access enrollment resources and support from Covering Wisconsin here, and learn more about how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower health care costs for Wisconsinites here. A recording of the event can be viewed here.
