1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support Governor Tony Evers' 2026 Legislative Agenda focused on lowering healthcare costs for Wisconsin families and seniors. The failure of the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits has created a healthcare affordability crisis that demands immediate state action. The impact on Wisconsin families has been devastating. A middle-class family of four in Wausau now faces monthly premiums that have more than doubled from $866 to over $2,300. In Barron County, a 60-year-old couple making around $85,000 has seen their premiums skyrocket over 800 percent, an annual increase of over $33,000. A 26-year-old in Eau Claire making $48,000 annually now pays an additional $2,000 per year. These increases have already caused enrollment to drop by over 24,000 people compared to 2025, when Wisconsin set record enrollments with 313,579 residents signing up for marketplace coverage. The situation will worsen under President Trump's budget reconciliation bill, which includes approximately $911 billion in cuts to Medicaid. These cuts will force 270,000 Wisconsinites to lose their Medicaid coverage and jeopardize rural hospitals across the state, with Wisconsin hospitals projected to lose over $264 million annually. Governor Evers' Rx for Less Plan offers concrete solutions. Establishing the Office of Prescription Drug Affordability and a Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board would provide oversight to prevent price gouging. Exempting over-the-counter medications from sales tax would reduce taxes by $70 million over the biennium. A $35 maximum copay cap for insulin and an Insulin Safety Net Program would provide immediate relief to diabetics facing unaffordable costs. The insurance reform proposals are equally critical. Creating an audit process for insurers with excessive claims denial rates, establishing a consumer protection office, and prohibiting prior authorization requirements for inpatient mental health services would hold insurers accountable and improve access to care. I urge you to pass this comprehensive healthcare agenda. Wisconsin families cannot afford to wait while healthcare costs continue to spiral out of control.