By Door County Pulse, Peninsula Pulse — August 29th, 2025

(Center, standing) Garnet De Grave, Northeast Co-op organizer for Citizen Action of Wisconsin, shares that Medicaid covers 1.3 million Wisconsinites, a fifth of the state population, almost half of whom are children, during a town hall event held at Third Avenue Playworks Theater, Aug. 25. Citizen Action of Wisconsin organized the event in response to the federal 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act, passed July 4. That law reduces the federal support for Medicaid, the public insurance program that helps cover medical costs for low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities. It also changes who is eligible to receive Medicaid and Medicare benefits to access Affordable Care Act plans. The event included Door County leaders, Democratic political candidates and residents. Some shared anecdotes about medical care challenges, including sacrificing medical care because of cost, or turning down job promotions to remain eligible for Medicaid. Photo by Betsy Lecy.