I’m Grumpy Today Because Florida Politicians Unnecessarily Keep Healthcare From Deserving Floridians

According to a March report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Florida ranks in the bottom 10 in three out of four measures of recession preparedness because of a “weak unemployment insurance system,” “failure to expand Medicaid” and “inadequate reserves,” according to the report.  This week let’s look at Florida lawmakers failure to expand Medicaid.

 

A new report estimates 693,000 uninsured Floridians could have health coverage if the state expanded Medicaid as allowed under the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare. But for years, Florida has turned down federal money to expand the Medicaid program — one of only 14 states — to refuse free healthcare money from the Federal government. Hard to figure since new Medicaid enrollees nationwide had fewer out-of-pocket medical expenses, lower medical debt, better credit and were less likely to face bankruptcy.  And in the states (including ruby red ones) that have expanded Medicaid, there have been no significant changes in state spending.

 

Oh, wait, I remember — the Medicaid expansion is part of Obamacare and Republicans hate any expansion of access to health insurance.  In fact, while the pandemic rages, the state of Florida is part of the ongoing lawsuit to eliminate Obamacare entirely.   The bottom line is our state is not at all prepared.  Help me protect healthcare access for working Floridians.

See more of what I have to say at Grumpy Al’s Blog https://algriffiths4statehouse.wordpress.com/2020/07/23/this-is-why-im-grumpy-today/