Gov. Tony Evers and Dem Congress members criticized Republicans for not renewing enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies as some Wisconsinites could see their premiums more than double when open enrollment begins Saturday.

Those hardest hit would include senior couples, who could see hikes of more than $30,000 in some counties, according to numbers from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.

Evers joined a virtual press conference yesterday with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, U.S. Reps. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, and Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, as Democrats push to renew enhanced ACA tax credits, which have lowered insurance costs for millions, amid the government shutdown.

While some Republicans have voiced openness to extending the credits, congressional leaders have said that discussion should come after the government is reopened. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has kept his chamber in recess since Sept. 19.

Evers blamed the shutdown, which began Oct. 1, on Republicans’ refusal to extend the tax credits. He said without the credits, “health care premiums for Wisconsinites are going to skyrocket, period.” 

“Wisconsinites expect their leaders to work together to solve problems. Instead, Republicans in Congress are hell-bent on creating problems instead of working together to solve them, and Wisconsinites are gonna pay the price,” the Dem guv said. 

The enhanced tax credits expanded eligibility so those who earn more than 400% of the federal poverty level could receive financial assistance. 

Some of the annual increases for a family of four nonsmokers on a silver plan making $128,000, 398% of the federal poverty level, include: 

  • $1,153, a 9% hike, in Dane County; 
  • $3,789, a 46% hike, in Eau Claire County; 
  • $ 4,366, a 57% increase, in Barron County; 
  • $ 2,230, a 21% increase, in La Crosse County;
  • $ 2,277, a 22% increase, in Brown County; 
  • $ 768, a 6% increase, in Milwaukee County;
  • $1,928, an 18% increase, in Marathon County; 
  • $1,605, a 13% increase, in Racine County; and 
  • $258, a 2% increase, in Waukesha County. 

Some of the annual increases for a family of four nonsmokers on a silver plan making $130,000, 404% of the federal poverty level, include:

  • $12,562, a 102% hike, in Dane County; 
  • $23,992, a 284% hike, in Eau Claire County; 
  • $24,569, a 312% increase, in Barron County; 
  • $17,561, a 165% increase, in La Crosse County; 
  • $13,380, a $126% increase, in Brown County; 
  • $17,247, a 141% increase, in Milwaukee County; 
  • $17,038, a 160% increase, in Marathon County;
  • $16,685, a 137% increase, in Racine County; and 
  • $12,879, a 102% increase, in Waukesha County. 

The data also show 60-year-old nonsmoking couples on a silver plan making $85,658, 405% of the federal poverty level, could see annual increases of more than $30,000. That includes increases of $32,483 for a couple in Eau Claire, a 683% hike, and $33,152, an 812% increase, for a couple in Barron County. See more highlights in Evers’ release.

During the previous enrollment period, 277,175 of 313,579 enrollees in Wisconsin qualified for premium subsidies, with an average of $664 per month in savings. 

Baldwin has introduced legislation to permanently extend the credits, which she said Republicans have repeatedly shot down. She rejected the idea of passing a “clean” funding measure first.

“This is not something where we can have a wink and a nod that, ‘Well, we’ll talk about the Affordable Care Act tax credits after the government is reopened,’” Baldwin said. 

Baldwin said she knows many of her GOP colleagues want to address the issue, but she said an agreement is needed to extend the credits and reopen the government at the same time.

“We can do both. That’s what this is all about,” Baldwin said. 

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, in a statement said Dems tried to hide Obamacare’s failures with subsidies for those making up to $500,000 and noted they set the expiration date in the bill. 

“President Trump has said he’s willing to negotiate a solution, but only after Democrats pass the clean budget bill and reopen the government, which Senator Baldwin and Senate Democrats have refused to do 12 times now,” Tiffany said. 

Baldwin has voted for Dems’ proposal to reopen the government. 

State GOP Chair Brian Schimming knocked Dems for “doing everything they can to distract Americans from their failures.” 

“President Trump has delivered historic wins for healthcare, especially in rural communities by providing much needed investments,” he said. Schimming charged Dems with using the shutdown as leverage and seeking to reverse those investments. Dems have criticized Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act for cuts to Medicaid.

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