Record-Breaking Health Insurance Enrollment in Wisconsin: How the ACA is Transforming Coverage Options

Wisconsinites are taking advantage of health insurance options through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). State officials announced that 313,579 residents signed up during the recent open enrollment period, from November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025. This marks a record increase of 47,250 people compared to last year, which is an 18% growth.

The ACA established the marketplace, Healthcare.gov, for people who need individual or family health insurance. This is especially important for those who don’t have coverage from an employer and don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.

Plans in the marketplace are offered by private insurance companies, but they must meet ACA standards. One key rule is that individuals with preexisting conditions cannot be denied coverage or charged higher rates.

Many Wisconsinites benefit from federal subsidies that help lower monthly premium costs. These subsidies expanded under the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. However, they’re set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress takes action to continue them.

Most people who signed up for ACA plans in Wisconsin qualified for these subsidies, saving an average of $573 per month on premiums.

Before the current administration, Wisconsin was part of an effort to challenge the ACA in court. Since taking office in 2019, Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul pulled Wisconsin out of that lawsuit and have actively promoted the ACA. They launched WisCovered, a program to help residents find health coverage options.

Although there are uncertainties about the ACA’s future, especially with political shifts, Evers stressed the importance of maintaining it for the health of all Wisconsinites.

“Health care should not be a privilege only for the wealthy or healthy,” Evers stated. “This record enrollment shows how crucial it is to keep protecting access to healthcare.”