Reps. Kind, Moore, and Pocan Call on House Leadership to Prioritize Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care Coverage

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021:

Yesterday, Reps. Ron Kind (WI-03), Gwen Moore (WI-04), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) sent a letter to House leadership emphasizing the importance of preserving and expanding access to affordable health care coverage as discussions on the Build Back Better Act continue.

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), which was signed into law in March, helped lower health care coverage costs for millions of Americans by expanding eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. Wisconsin saw an immediate impact from the passage of the ARP as new enrollment in ACA plans doubled, 116,000 Wisconsinites became eligible for lower cost plans, and monthly premiums fell by an average of 50%. Now, the Wisconsin lawmakers are urging House leadership to build on this progress and make the enhanced ACA premium tax credits permanent.

In the letter, Reps. Kind, Moore, and Pocan write, "If we fail to preserve the enhanced Premium Tax Credits, thousands of Wisconsin consumers could lose access to the health benefits they rely on."

Additionally, the lawmakers are highlighting the importance of delivering Medicaid expansion to Wisconsin and other states that have failed to fully expand Medicaid under the ACA. Over 90,000 people in Wisconsin would be eligible for comprehensive health benefits at little to no cost to Wisconsinites.

"The Build Back Better Act, as voted out of the House Committee on Budget, promises to provide a permanent option to deliver access to health care for millions of low-income Americans regardless of which state they live in. As many as 90,000 people in Wisconsin could become eligible for robust health benefits at little to no cost if Medicaid expansion is made available in our state.. The priorities outlined above, when taken together, present us with a historic opportunity to invest in our health care infrastructure to ensure Wisconsinites and people across the United States have access to affordable health care for years to come," wrote Reps. Kind, Moore, and Pocan.

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To: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515

September 28, 2021

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

As negotiations continue over the Build Back Better Act, we write today to emphasize the importance of preserving and expanding access to affordable health care coverage. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) helped millions of Americans access high-quality health insurance for the first time. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) ensured that coverage is available at an affordable price. It is critical that we preserve the progress made through the American Rescue Plan and extend affordable comprehensive coverage to over 90,000 Wisconsin residents by delivering on our promise to expand Medicaid.

The American Rescue Plan led to a historic rise in health insurance enrollment in our state. Following the passage of the ARP, new enrollment in Marketplace coverage doubled. This year, 33,000 Wisconsinites enrolled in coverage through HealthCare.gov compared to just 16,000 new enrollees in 2020. The ARP also created historic savings for people who already purchased coverage through the ACA Marketplace. Over 116,000 Wisconsin consumers became eligible for lower cost health insurance and saw their monthly premiums fall by an average of 50 percent. In total, Wisconsinites who participated in the ACA Marketplace have saved $8.7 million per month since the passage of the ARP./1 If we fail to preserve the enhanced Premium Tax Credits, thousands of Wisconsin consumers could lose access to the health benefits they rely on.

In addition to preserving the progress made through the ARP, we must deliver on our promise to provide a fix for individuals living in states whose leaders have withheld Medicaid coverage from their residents. Wisconsin is one of just 12 states that have failed to fully expand Medicaid under the ACA. Republicans in our state government have repeatedly put politics ahead of the health of thousands of low-income Wisconsin residents. The Build Back Better Act, as voted out of the House Committee on Budget, promises to provide a permanent option to deliver access to health care for millions of low-income Americans regardless of which state they live in. As many as 90,000 people in Wisconsin could become eligible for robust health benefits at little to no cost if Medicaid expansion is made available in our state./2

The Trump Administration spent years working to dismantle the Affordable Care Act by undermining the consumer protections in the law and driving up the cost of coverage. The priorities outlined above, when taken together, present us with a historic opportunity to invest in our health care infrastructure to ensure Wisconsinites and people across the United States have access to affordable health care for years to come.

Through the American Rescue Plan, millions of Americans have access to health care at a price they can afford. We must build on that investment in the Build Back Better Act by ensuring health care coverage remains affordable and health benefits are extended to millions of low-income Americans.

Sincerely,

Ron Kind, Member of Congress

Gwen Moore, Member of Congress

Mark Pocan, Member of Congress

View footnotes at https://kind.house.gov/sites/kind.house.gov/files/092821%20Letter.pdf