Dear friend, it’s your Congresswoman, Gwen Moore. While this government shutdown continues, I want you all to know what’s really at stake: access to affordable health care.
After conservatives cut Medicaid (BadgerCare in Wisconsin) by $1 trillion and failed to address expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, millions of Americans face higher health care costs and the threat of losing their health care altogether.
Meanwhile, the Right continues making false claims and downplaying the urgency of the health care crisis. As your Congresswoman, I promise to always keep it real with you, which is why I wanted to separate the myths from the facts.
MYTH – Congress has months to negotiate a plan to extend ACA premium tax credits before next year. In a media interview, Speaker Mike Johnson said, “We have effectively three months to negotiate. In the White House and in the halls of Congress, that’s like an eternity.”
TRUTH - Open enrollment on the ACA marketplace starts November 1st. Some Americans have already received notices, warning them that their premiums will increase next year.
State insurance commissioners need to approve and review updated rates, which takes time – think weeks. State insurance commissioners and CMS need to approve and review plan rates for 2026, which takes time. At this point, state regulators have submitted to CMS the rates they have currently approved and expect CMS to certify those rates by October 17th. Finalized rates will be available here.
Waiting three months to pass a plan will lead to confusion, potentially deterring people from purchasing a plan through the ACA marketplace. If people see high rates when they look for insurance in November, if Congress subsequently acts, many people will be dissuaded from going back to the marketplace. That means the time to act is now.
MYTH - Liberals in Congress are shutting down the government to give health care to “illegal immigrants.”
TRUTH - Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federal health care programs such as Medicaid or ACA tax credits. Our proposal does not change those eligibility rules but would save ACA premium credits for the 22 million Americans who need them. Instead of lying on their colleagues, conservatives should work in a bipartisan manner to protect the health care of our constituents.
MYTH - ACA premium tax credits benefit Americans making $600,000.
TRUTH - According to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), eighty-six percent of ACA tax credits benefit Americans earning less than $150,000. And no person earning above $500,000 receives these credits.
You know what policy does disproportionately benefit the wealthy? The Republicans’ budget bill which further enriches the wealthy while leaving struggling Americans worse off through cuts to BadgerCare and Foodshare.
MYTH - Democrats are responsible for this government shutdown.
TRUTH - Conservatives currently hold the White House, the Senate, and the House. Despite this government trifecta, the majority in Congress has failed to enact any appropriations bills into law, allowing government funding and a number of other important health and other provisions, to expire on September 30th.
WHAT CONGRESS MUST DO NEXT – The majority in Congress must work to advance a deal that protects access to ACA premium tax credits and addresses cuts to Medicaid programs across the country. These efforts cannot happen with vague promises, but with meaningful negotiations and bipartisan legislation. I will continue fighting to protect your health care.
Our Office is Here to Help
As always, my office is here to help. If you are a resident of WI-04 and need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my district office 414-297-1140.
Your friend,
Gwen
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