Press Release: Gov. Evers, Evers Administration Celebrate 14 Years of the Affordable Care Act

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 03/22/2024 08:00 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2024
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers, Evers Administration Celebrate 14 Years of the Affordable Care Act
 
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today celebrated the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its positive impacts making healthcare more accessible in Wisconsin and ensuring healthcare coverage for the millions of Wisconsinites who have pre-existing conditions. The ACA was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more Wisconsinites have been able to access quality, affordable healthcare coverage for the last 14 years, including a record more than 260,000 during the last Open Enrollment Period alone,” said Gov Evers. “This legislation continues to be transformational for folks and families across the state. I will continue to do everything I can to defend the ACA—including its protections for people with pre-existing conditions—as we continue our work building upon our efforts to expand access to affordable healthcare in Wisconsin.”

“Since its enactment on March 23, 2010, the ACA has made it easier for everyone to get the high quality, affordable health insurance they need,” said Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) Commissioner Nathan Houdek. “Thanks to the ACA, millions of Wisconsin families have been able to access health insurance without lifetime limits and regardless of pre-existing conditions. Wisconsin has one of the most competitive health insurance marketplaces in the country, ranking second nationwide in number of participating insurers. Provisions of the ACA have both strengthened the private health insurance market and ensured consumers are protected.”

“Costs shouldn’t be a barrier to health care, and for 14 years, the ACA has ensured Wisconsin families don’t have to sacrifice to get the care they need and deserve,” said Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary Kirsten Johnson. “The ACA bridges the gap between BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid and private insurance so no one falls through the cracks, and everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.”

Gov. Evers has long been committed to ensuring every Wisconsinite has access to quality, affordable healthcare. In 2019, the governor delivered on his promise to withdraw the state of Wisconsin from a Republican-led lawsuit that would have gutted the ACA, kicked thousands of Wisconsinites off their healthcare, and put 2.4 million Wisconsinites who have a pre-existing condition at risk. Gov. Evers also launched the DHS OCI Health Care Coverage Partnership in 2019 to improve coordination around outreach and education, increase enrollment and health insurance literacy, and improve enrollment retention. In 2020, this partnership launched WisCovered.com as an accessible resource for consumers to get connected with enrollment information. During the 2024 Open Enrollment Period, nearly 20,000 Wisconsinites visited the WisCovered.com website.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), during the 2024 Open Enrollment Period, 266,327 Wisconsinites signed up for health insurance on HealthCare.gov. This is a record-high number of Wisconsinites enrolled, marking a 20 percent increase in enrollment from the previous period. Since 2020, enrollment in the individual market in Wisconsin has increased each year thanks to President Joe Biden and Gov. Evers restoring funding for public outreach efforts to reach communities across the state. Currently, Wisconsin ranks second in the nation in the number of issuers participating in the individual health insurance marketplace. 

The ACA has also given Wisconsin the flexibility to operate the successful Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan (WIHSP). WIHSP was created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 138, a bipartisan bill signed into law in 2018 and implemented under Gov. Evers. WIHSP has helped keep health insurance rates low while increasing choice for consumers every year it has been in operation. Due to support from Gov. Evers and the Wisconsin State Legislature, WIHSP has been fully funded in each of the last three state biennial budgets. This program was recently extended through Dec. 31, 2028.

ACA-compliant health insurance plans are required to cover ten essential health benefits, from mental health services to prescription drugs. The ACA also requires that at least 80 percent of health insurance premiums be spent directly on medical care. When an insurers’ proportion of premium revenues spent on clinical services doesn’t meet that standard, they must provide a rebate. Wisconsin residents received over $7 million in rebates in 2022.

Though the 2024 Open Enrollment Period has ended, Wisconsinites may still be able to get enrolled in a plan available on the individual marketplace if they have a qualifying life event like losing their job, getting married, or having a baby. Additionally, Tribal members and their families may enroll in coverage on the marketplace at any time. Wisconsinites can learn more about their coverage options by visiting WisCovered.com, calling (877) 947-2211, or talking to a licensed health insurance agent.
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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