Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin says the American Rescue Plan’s impact on health care was a major reason why she voted in favor of the $1.9 trillion bill. Between March and September 2020, more than three million Americans lost their employer-sponsored health insurance, forcing them to go it alone or jump on temporary COBRA continuation coverage. By approving the plan, it lowered or eliminated health insurance premiums for many Americans and provided incentives for states to expand Medicaid. Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other state Republicans have voiced their opposition to expanding Medicaid, questioning what would happen if the federal dollars would disappear someday. Baldwin hopes they reconsider.

Baldwin says the Affordable Care Act has helped provide insurance coverage to thousands of Wisconsinites since it was signed into law 11 years ago this week.

Picture taken previous to pandemic