Washington, D.C. — Last night, during the Wisconsin governor debate, Rep. Tom Tiffany laughed about his vote to gut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and rip away health care tax credits for millions of Americans to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.  

Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse issued a statement:

“Tom Tiffany laughing is a slap in the face to Wisconsinites who are facing soaring health care costs, watching their hospitals shut down, and losing their coverage.  Tiffany voted with Donald Trump to take a wrecking ball to their health care, and he thinks it’s all a joke. There is nothing funny about ripping health care away from millions to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Wisconsin families deserve a governor who will fight for their health care, not laugh about taking it away. Tom Tiffany won’t be laughing when Wisconsinites make their voices heard at the polls in just a couple of weeks.”

BY THE NUMBERS: WISCONSINITES CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING MORE OR FOREGOING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE

Tom Tiffany claimed that the bill he voted for “does not cut Medicaid for mothers, children, people with disabilities, or seniors,” but the reality is:

  • An estimated 69,306 Wisconsinites have already lost the Medicaid, CHIP, or ACA coverage they counted on to see a doctor after Republicans gutted health care.
    • 23,730 Wisconsinites have lost their Medicaid or CHIP coverage as of August.
    • 45,576 Wisconsinites dropped their ACA health care coverage after premiums skyrocketed.
  • 110,000 Wisconsinites in total are anticipated to become uninsured between 2025 and 2034.
  • More than 270,000 Wisconsinites were receiving tax credits to make their health care more affordable. Now, premiums for Wisconsinites who counted on the health tax credits Republicans gutted increased by an average of 148% this year: 
    • A 45-year-old in Wisconsin making $64,000 saw their average annual premium costs rise by $2,844 to hit $8,284 this year.
    • A 60-year-old couple in Wisconsin making $85,000 saw their average annual premium costs rise by $23,916 to hit $31,141 this year.
    • A family of four in Wisconsin making $130,000 saw their average annual premium costs rise by $12,392 to hit $23,442 this year.

WISCONSIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AT RISK

  • Now, thanks to Republicans gutting the premium tax credits and hiking Wisconsinites’ premiums, providers in Wisconsin will lose an additional $90 million in funding and face a 5.6% spike in uncompensated care demand.
  • Wisconsin hospitals alone are expected to lose $2.4 billion over the next decade. As of August 2026, 13 Wisconsin health care providers are at-risk, have announced cuts, are closing, or have closed, including:
    • AT-RISK: Aspirus Stanley Hospital, Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital, Mayo Clinic Health System – Oakridge
    • CLOSURE ANNOUNCED: Aspirus Prentice Clinic, Centers for Independence – Home Care, Fond du Lac County Acute Psychiatric Unit
    • CLOSED: Aurora Medical Center – Inpatient psychiatric care, City on a Hill, Emplify Health by Bellin, ENT & Allergy Associates – Wisconsin Rapids, Red Oak Counseling of Wisconsin, Tellurian Detox Services, ThedaCare Physicians – Weyauwega

VOICES FROM WISCONSIN

Macy from Deforest: “As a small business owner with fewer than 50 employees, I’ve watched the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ drive up my cost of doing business, and it’s my staff who are paying the price. […] Early childhood teachers deserve real access to healthcare and medication, not a Congress that makes it harder to afford both. Rep. Tom Tiffany voted for this bill. We can’t trust him with our healthcare.”

Mark from Eau Claire County: “I’m a cancer survivor—colon cancer—for six years…And with the new bill—the big crappy bill—I lost the subsidies that were in place before. And last year, I paid $938 a month for my health insurance for my wife and I. This year, it’s $2,743 a month. That’s a $21,600 increase.”

Dawn from Stevens Point: “Dawn Lass, a former teacher from Stevens Point, said her family’s monthly premium will jump from $500 with a $14,400 deductible to $2,475 with a $20,000 deductible if the credits aren’t extended. ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do,’ Lass said. ‘We had no idea this was coming, and so we’re just finagling, trying to find ways to make sure that we’re going to be able to afford this.’”

Dan from Milwaukee: “This is so incredibly shortsighted and feels so much like chaos for the pure sake of creating chaos…I don’t think I’m alone here. I think you’re going to see small businesses closing, and this is what makes Milwaukee and the greater state of Wisconsin special: our small businesses.’” 

Marty from Sparta: “Marty […] said the price for her basic-level plan increased by $1,000 per month.” “‘I know friends who said that their costs are going up $12,000, $16,000, $24,000, and they have no choice because they have health issues and they have to have medications,’ Marty noted. ‘My heart just breaks for them.’”

Kelly from Altoona: “‘To go from zero to $2,300 (per month) is financially a huge hit,’ said Berry, 58, who serves as a consultant and offers peer-review services for small businesses…Even after cutting household expenses, she doesn’t know if they will save enough to pay their monthly insurance bills.”