800,000 Floridians: Will They Have Health Care?
Posted December 24, 2013 08:10 am
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Some 800,000 Floridians are spending their holidays not knowing if they will have access to health care insurance coverage under a Medicaid expansion authorized by the Affordable Care Act. The expanded Medicaid coverage is meant to bridge the gap for people who are too poor to qualify for insurance under federal law, but don't qualify for state Medicaid.
file photo
Previously, Governor Rick Scott had publicly stated he would support an expansion, but recently he's been noncommittal on his position - as he was recently with a group of reporters.
Reporter: "Do you still believe the state should take
advantage of that funding and expand Medicaid coverage?"
Governor Scott: "There's 300,000 families or individuals
have been told they're going to lose their insurance at
the end of the month. That's the biggest issue we're
dealing with right now."
The Adams Street Project - an effort by Progress Florida
and Florida Watch Action - asked the question of the
governor while he was at a public appearance. Many state
Republican leaders have said they want to turn down the
$51 billion in federal funds instead of participating in
what they believe is a flawed federal program.
Leah Barber-Heinz, CEO of Florida CHAIN - a group
dedicated to increasing access to affordable health care
in Florida - said she and other groups aren't giving up
hope that the governor will come through on his initial
commitment to the expansion.
"The governor has an opportunity to make sure that
people have access to affordable health coverage and so
many for the very first time, so we think it's extremely
important to keep up the fight and continue to advocate
for this, no matter how long it takes," she declared.
Photos/graphics and links added by the Observer