Florida Health Activists Cheer ACA Decision
Posted June 26, 2015 08:15 am
TALLAHASSEE,
FL - Florida health activists say they're thrilled that
the Supreme Court upheld a key section of the Affordable
Care Act on Thursday. The court affirmed the legality of
federal subsidies that make health care affordable for
people who buy coverage from the federal
health-insurance exchange.
Laura
Brenneman, policy and research director for the
nonprofit Florida CHAIN, said 1.3 million Floridians who
depend on those subsidies dodged a bullet with this
decision.
"It's a huge victory for consumers," she said. "It could have been fairly catastrophic for the health-insurance market in the state - and therefore for millions of Floridians that rely on the individual market."
Florida is one of 34 states that has refused to set up a
state exchange and expand Medicaid. Brennaman said she
hopes this decision will move the needle in the state
capital.
"Our representatives in Tallahassee, the Legislature and
the governor, need to take action to improve health and
health access for 800,000 Floridians in the gap by
accepting the federal funds to expand Medicaid," she
said.
Both U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and former Gov. Jeb
Bush have vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act if
elected president.
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