Wisconsin Voter Guide

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State Gubernatorial

  • Tony Evers (D)
  • Tim Michels (R)
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BadgerCare Expansion

70% of Wisconsinites have consistently expressed solid support for BadgerCare expansion in statewide polls. Will you commit to joining this overwhelming majority in support of BadgerCare expansion in 2023?

Tony Evers

Yes

Yes, I continue to believe in the importance of expanding BadgerCare to support Wisconsin’s workforce, farmers, and small businesses, provide affordable coverage to even more Wisconsin families, and expand initiatives to lower healthcare costs for everyone across the state. BadgerCare expansion is supported by a wide majority of Wisconsin and I’ll continue to work to bring people together on this issue. In both of my budget proposals, I called for expanding BadgerCare using the federal Medicaid funds from the Affordable Care Act, and in 2021, I called a special session of the legislature to expand BadgerCare and direct the $1 billion we’d save towards growing our economy. Wisconsin is one of only 12 states that has not expanded its Medicaid system, and an expansion would allow an additional 90,000 Wisconsinites to receive coverage and save the state more than $1 billion. I’m committed to doing the right thing for Wisconsin, and I will continue to advocate for the expansion of BadgerCare.

Tim Michels

This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

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Improving Health Care Affordability in Wisconsin

Without BadgerCare expansion, many working Wisconsinites can’t afford the cancer screening, treatment, and survivorship care they need to maintain their health. After more than 7 years of inaction by the Wisconsin legislature, what are your plans to improve health care affordability for our friends and neighbors who need a solution?

Tony Evers

Yes

More than ever, access to affordable and accessible healthcare is critical to Wisconsin’s future and the success of communities across the state, and I’ve worked tirelessly to protect healthcare coverage. Everyone should be able to afford their medication, but for far too many Wisconsinites their prescription medications remain out of reach with burdensome out-of-pocket expenses. I will continue to advocate for reform and transparency in drug pricing, like the initiatives outlined in my “Less for Rx” Prescription Drug Plan — a bold package that would lower drug costs for Wisconsinites. Our “Less for Rx” plan makes it easier for Wisconsinites to afford prescription drugs and allows them to fully understand how much they will have to pay. Wisconsinites deserve to know the cost of their prescriptions and should be able to afford life-saving medications. No one should be calling for an ambulance and have to wonder whether help will come, that’s why I invested $30 million to support and expand the nearly 800 emergency medical service providers across the state — many of whom are currently volunteers or work part-time. I also am a strong advocate for telehealth services, and will continue to make investments to make sure communities across Wisconsin can access the care they need. Healthcare costs are a major burden and cost to Wisconsinites that we must continue to work to address. By decreasing the cost of prescription drugs, fostering healthy competition, expanding BadgerCare, and investing in emergency medical services, we can make healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone.

Tim Michels

This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

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Short-Term Limited Duration Health Plans in Wisconsin

Short-term limited-duration health plans are intended as temporary coverage and are exempt from many patient protections that are important to individuals who have been or will be diagnosed with cancer. There have been efforts in Wisconsin to expand the availability of these types of plans, putting Wisconsinites with serious health conditions at risk. Will you oppose legislation that expands the use of short-term limited-duration plans?

Tony Evers

Yes

I oppose legislation that expands the use of short-term limited duration health plans because they do not provide the necessary insurance coverage that cancer patients require and often leave patients with unexpectedly large medical bills. After taking office, I signed an executive order that sought to protect against attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act marketplace with short term plans that do not comply with Affordable Care Act requirements, and in my 2021-2023 budget proposal, I called for capping the length of short-term plans at six months. As a cancer survivor, I’m committed to lowering healthcare costs and expanding coverage to even more for Wisconsinites, and I will continue to oppose efforts to expand short-term plans that put patients at risk.

Tim Michels

This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

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This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.