Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Reps. Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Local Elected Officials, Storytellers, and Advocates Joined Protect Our Care in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin
Protect Our Care’s latest campaign, Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” is driving a growing drumbeat of stories on health care across the country, putting the real-world consequences of Donald Trump and Republicans’ health care cuts in front of Americans every day. From families facing higher costs and losing coverage to patients delaying care and communities watching their hospitals struggle, these stories are giving Americans a front-row view of a health care system being pushed to a breaking point.
With events, local voices, and grassroots action taking place from coast to coast, the campaign is generating new headlines every day and reaching Americans where they are. The message is cutting through: people are sick of watching their health care become more expensive and harder to access while Donald Trump and Republicans prioritize tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
Republicans Are Feeling the Heat for Their War on Health Care
Arizona
KJZZ: Arizona’s Sen. Gallego Criticizes Trump’s Healthcare Coverage Cuts. “Gallego said Republican lawmakers were to blame for vulnerable Arizonans losing coverage, specifically naming Arizona Congressmen Juan Ciscomani and Eli Crane. ‘If you would have designed the worst way to actually cut people off from health insurance, create a crisis, increase costs in general — you would have thought it was perfectly planned out by this administration and Donald Trump,’ Gallego said.” [KJZZ, 08/22/26]
Colorado
FOX 21: Colorado Democrats Said OBBB Caused Higher Healthcare Costs. “Protect Our Care Colorado said attacks on healthcare put lives at risk as over 24,889 Coloradans have already lost their Medicaid, CHIP, or ACA coverage they counted on to see a doctor. Hospitals risk closing their doors or reducing services, forcing Coloradans to forgo routine doctor’s visits and travel farther for emergency and lifesaving care, according to the group. ” [FOX 21, 8/20/26]
Michigan
WZZM: Rep. Scholten, Advocates Discuss GOP Cuts to Healthcare in Michigan. “For Megan Erskine, CEO of Catherine’s Health Center in the Grand Rapids area, the story of health care has a human face. ‘She has poorly controlled diabetes, and she does not get health insurance through the marketplace because she can no longer afford it. She chooses to put food on the table and keep a roof over her kids’ heads at the expense of her health.’ Erskine gathered with other leaders Monday morning following a new report from the group Protect Our Care, which cited sources like KFF and Georgetown University as well as past projections from nonpartisan left-leaning think tanks. ” [WZZM, 8/16/26]
Michigan Public: Michigan Advocates Speak Out Against “Devastating” Federal Healthcare Funding Cuts. “According to recent reports, 90,255 people in Michigan have lost their Medicaid or CHIP coverage and 130,789 dropped their ACA health care coverage after premiums increased. A press conference hosted by Protect Our Care Michigan brought together Michigan leaders and health advocates to highlight some of the impacts in the state.” [Michigan Public, 8/17/26]
WDET Detroit: Healthcare Advocates Discuss How Cuts to Medicaid and ACA Tax Credits Harm Michiganders. “Last summer, the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans cut funding to Medicaid, lowered federal reimbursement rates for medical providers and eliminated Affordable Care Act tax credits. Opponents say that hurt Michigan families and has begun to crush rural hospitals. Democratic Congresswoman Hillary Scholten says lawmakers can change course by focusing on preventive care and affordability.” [WDET Detroit, 8/18/26]
Michigan Radio: Rep. Hillary Scholten, West Michigan Advocates Discuss GOP Attacks to Healthcare. “‘ Last summer, the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans cut funding to Medicaid, lowered federal reimbursement rates for medical providers and eliminated Affordable Care Act tax credits. Opponents say that hurt Michigan families and has begun to crush rural hospitals. Democratic Congresswoman Hillary Scholten says lawmakers can change course by focusing on preventive care and affordability.” [Michigan Radio, 8/18/26]
CMU Public Radio Grand Rapids: POC MI, Rep. Scholten Discuss GOP Health Care Cuts with New Report. “Last summer, the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans cut funding to Medicaid, lowered federal reimbursement rates for medical providers and eliminated Affordable Care Act tax credits. Opponents say that hurt Michigan families and has begun to crush rural hospitals. Democratic Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, a Democrat who represents an area of west Michigan that includes Grand Rapids, says lawmakers can change course by focusing on preventive care and affordability.” [CMU Public Radio Grand Rapids, 8/18/26]
WEMU-FM Detroit: Rep. Scholten, Advocates Discuss Health Care Cuts in Michigan. “Last summer, the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans cut funding to Medicaid, lowered federal reimbursement rates for medical providers and eliminated Affordable Care Act tax credits. Opponents say this has harmed Michigan families and has begun to crush rural hospitals. Congresswoman Hilary Skelton, a Democrat who represents an area of west Michigan that includes Grand Rapids, spoke at the event. She said Congress can change course by focusing on preventative care and affordability. [WEMU-FM Detroit, 8/18/26]
Michigan Independent: Michigan’s Rural Hospitals Closing, Reducing Service After Medicaid Cuts. “Experts predicted that the cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would push already endangered rural healthcare facilities over the edge financially, leaving communities without nearby care…Despite these warnings, Michigan Republican U.S. Reps. Tom Barrett, Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, John James, Lisa McClain, John Moolenaar, and Tim Walberg all voted for the law.” [Michigan Independent, 8/21/26]
Ohio
Toledo Blade: Ohio Health Marketplace Insurers Seek Premium Hike. “A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report found that a 45-year-old in Ohio making $64,000 a year now has to pay $6,956 in annual premium costs — an increase of $1,516 from 2025. The organization also says that a 60-year-old couple making $85,000 a year now have to pay $26,146 in premiums, an increase of $18,921. A family of four making $130,000 a year saw their average annual premium rise from $8,632 to $19,682.” [Toledo Blade, 8/20/26]
Virginia
13NewsNow: McClellan Sounds Alarm Over Federal Healthcare Cuts Impacting Hundreds of Thousands. “Deputy Secretary Walker presented data mapping out the fiscal blow to Virginia’s state budget and healthcare delivery systems, estimating a $2 billion to $6 billion loss in state revenue in a single year. Walker emphasized that the crisis extends far beyond individual coverage loss and includes the danger facing hospitals and rural communities that rely on Medicaid reimbursements.‘The economic harm from losing a hospital in a rural community is beyond just the healthcare needs and the healthcare access. Businesses don’t want to move into communities that don’t have hospitals,’ Walker said.” [13NewsNow, 08/21/26]
Wisconsin
CBS58: Small Businesses Raise Healthcare Concerns; Tiffany Defends Medicaid Work Requirements. “According to Protect Our Care Wisconsin, a left-leaning healthcare advocacy group, more than 65,000 Wisconsinites have already lost the healthcare they need due to the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July of last year.” [CBS58, 8/18/21]
Wisconsin Examiner: Advocates Say Tiffany’s Vote for 2025 Medicaid Cuts Bodes Ill for Healthcare. “‘We’ve seen small business owners in Baraboo on the Affordable Care Act say that their monthly portion they pay in has doubled or even tripled,’ Pocan said. One constituent he spoke with ‘just got out of the [insurance] system altogether,’ setting aside the cash that would have gone to an insurance premium in hopes that it would be enough to cover a healthcare emergency. ‘That’s not a healthcare plan,’ Pocan said. ‘That’s not about making health insurance more affordable. That’s about taking insurance away from people.’” [Wisconsin Examiner, 8/19/26]