MILWAUKEE — Governor Evers spoke with community leaders and business owners in Milwaukee Monday afternoon to talk about the importance of extending the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits.
According to Governor Evers, in Milwaukee, a ​26-year-​old ​who ​makes ​$48,000 ​a ​year ​will ​see ​their ​premium ​go ​up $​1,400, and a family of four could see a 141% increase.
Wisconsin republicans have so far opposed the extension of subsidies.
Evers blames the federal government for the lack of extension amid the ongoing government shutdown.
“They ​can ​play ​any ​game ​they ​want, ​frankly. ​​They ​can ​come ​together ​and ​say ​let’s ​fix ​this. ​People ​want ​this ​done, ​ ​I ​want ​this ​done,” says Evers. ​”All ​they ​have ​to ​do ​is ​go ​to ​work. I ​don’t ​care ​about ​the ​resolution. ​All ​I ​care ​about ​is ​for ​the ​people ​of ​Wisconsin ​have ​the ​health ​care ​that ​they ​need.
State Senator Dora Drake also met with community members.
“The ​fact ​that ​you ​are ​intentionally ​waiting ​to ​not ​have ​the ​government ​shutdown ​addressed ​by ​November ​1st ​is ​planned ​and ​it’s ​cruel. ​And ​this ​doesn’t ​just ​impact ​people ​that ​are ​low ​income  ​or ​um, ​fixed ​incomes. ​This ​affects ​our ​elders. ​This ​impacts ​rural ​communities ​where ​we ​will ​see  ​hospitals ​and ​nursing ​homes ​closed, ​where ​we ​see ​a ​lack ​of ​care ​provided. ​​This ​impacts ​everybody,” says Drake.
In terms of action, Drake recommends calling representatives, sharing stories, and banding together as a community. She also recommends preventative measures, like considering ​a ​90 ​day ​supply of necessary medication.
November 1st is the beginning of open enrollment for health insurance. It also marks one month of the ongoing government shutdown.
“Hope ​is ​always ​there. ​It’s ​a ​matter ​of ​if ​we ​choose ​it. ​We ​do ​have ​a ​history ​of ​people  ​coming ​up ​together ​and ​supporting ​one ​another,” says Drake. “My ​hope ​is ​this. ​We ​have ​each ​other. ​And ​if ​we ​have ​each ​other, ​then ​we ​have ​all ​we ​need ​to ​move ​forward.”
