ICYMI: Baldwin Wraps Week on Road Calling for GOP to Extend ACA Tax Breaks Before They Expire

WISCONSIN – This week, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) made stops in Friendship, Weston, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Mount Horeb highlighting the need to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax breaks that help 230,000 Wisconsinites afford their insurance. Unless Republicans act, the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits will expire at the end of the year, jacking up the cost of insurance for over 20 million Americans by 75% on average.

“Affordable Care Act tax breaks are a lifeline for families, business owners, and communities across Wisconsin. This week, I traveled across the state and heard from families and small businesses who are wondering how they’ll make ends meet if Republicans allow their health care costs to skyrocket,” said Senator Baldwin “We know Republicans can pass tax giveaways for billionaires and corporations, but if they are serious about keeping costs down for working families, it’s time to join me at the table to get this done.

On her tour of the state, Senator Baldwin met with health care providers, small business owners, and constituents to talk about how Enhanced Premium Tax Credits have helped a record number of Wisconsinites get insured through the ACA. Today, over 300,000 Wisconsinites use ACA coverage, including 270,000 who receive premium tax credits that save them on average $585 each month. Senator Baldwin also joined business owners and leaders to talk about how the expiration of these tax breaks will affect local economies. About half of the adults using the Affordable Care Act are small business owners, employees, or self-employed Americans.

In Weston, Senator Baldwin hosted a roundtable at Marshfield Medical Center with small business owners, employees, and retirees who rely on the ACA marketplace. During the visit, one couple shared they expect their monthly premium could jump from around $600 per month to around $1,700 per month if this tax break expires. Listen to what Marathon County residents had to say about these cuts here.

In Green Bay, Senator Baldwin visited Casa ALBA Melanie and met with local providers, health care navigators, small business owners, and community members who get their health care through the ACA. During the conversation, participants shared their concerns about rising health care costs and the impact those increases will have on their families and the broader community. Hear what a local business owner had to say about these cuts here.

In Milwaukee, Senator Baldwin was joined by public health leaders, local business owners, and Milwaukee residents at Outreach Community Health Center for a conversation on the ripple effects that the expiring tax breaks will have. Hear about how the Affordable Care Act benefitted Langston and his family here.

In Mount Horeb, Senator Baldwin toured Upland Hills Health Mount Horeb Clinic before sitting down with Upland Hills providers and local business owners. One business owner shared that about one-third of her employees get their care through the Affordable Care Act, and thanks to the enhanced tax-credit subsidies, they can afford health insurance that would have been out of reach otherwise.

Senator Baldwin also made a stop in Friendship to highlight her work expanding access to health care in rural communities. Senator Baldwin visited Gundersen Moundview Hospital, a critical access hospital, to see the newly unveiled mobile pediatric clinic. Senator Baldwin secured over $230,000 for the clinic, which increases accessibility to care for families across the region.

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