Healthcare premiums for Wisconsinites to skyrocket in 2026 if Republicans fail to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with Office of the Commissioner of Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek, released 2026 plan year rates for Wisconsin's individual marketplace that show healthcare coverage costs are expected to skyrocket for Wisconsinites if President Donald J. Trump and Republicans in Congress fail to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. Based on increased rates approved by the Trump administration for the 2026 plan year, combined with the significant consequences of Congressional Republicans failing to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, many Wisconsinites and their families will see their premiums double, with some seniors seeing an increase of more than $30,000 per year.

The announcement on Monday came on Day 27 of the federal government shutdown as Congressional Republicans have refused for weeks to negotiate with Democrats to extend Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year even as Wisconsinites and Americans across the country are set to sign up for healthcare coverage during the 2026 Open Enrollment period starting later this week on Nov. 1. The Affordable Care Act tax credits have helped make healthcare coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. According to KFF, 78% of Americans and nearly 60% of Republicans support extending the tax credits, and according to the Center for American Progress, relative to original premium tax credits, the Affordable Care Act's enhanced tax credits lowered marketplace premiums by an average of 44% for millions last year.

The 2026 plan rates released Oct. 27 are the first real glimpse of how Wisconsinites will be priced out of being able to afford healthcare coverage, with most Wisconsinites seeing costs soar by hundreds or even thousands more dollars a month.

"At a time when costs continue to go up and families and seniors are already struggling to make ends meet, we should be doing everything we can to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. But instead, Republicans in Congress are refusing to extend key supports under the Affordable Care Act, which means some Wisconsinites will pay hundreds or thousands of dollars more every month and even tens of thousands of dollars more a year — folks, that's breathtaking," said Evers. "With Open Enrollment just days away, President Trump and Republicans in Congress must work across the aisle to ensure these Affordable Care Act tax credits do not expire and prevent Wisconsin families and seniors from seeing their healthcare coverage costs skyrocket. Republicans' reckless decisions are causing prices on everything to go up, from groceries to gas — Wisconsinites cannot afford to pay even more for healthcare too. Republicans need to end this chaos and stop working to make healthcare more expensive. It's that simple."

How much Wisconsinites' healthcare coverage costs will increase varies depending on age, income, plan selection, and available insurers in each county, but many Wisconsinites will see their premiums increase significantly, with seniors and middle-class families seeing some of the largest increases if Republicans in Congress do not extend enhanced tax credits under Affordable Care Act.

The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance released several scenarios illustrating the enormous out-of-pocket costs Wisconsinites will see on a monthly and annual basis based on example ages, incomes, and counties of residence.

For example, without the reinstatement of enhanced premium tax credits, a middle-class family of four from Marathon County could see their premium more than double, going from $886 a month to more than $2,300 a month.