In the News
Fact Check: Rick Scott Claims He Cares About Floridians, but has Failed to Expand Access to Health Care
Rick Scott claims he cares about Floridians, but in reality he couldn’t care less. Rick Scott has failed to expand access to health care to working Floridians. Instead of expanding access to health care, Rick Scott has actively put up roadblocks preventing people from learning about the benefits that come with enrolling in the Affordable Care Act. Rick Scott claims he wants to help Floridians, but in Rick Scott’s Florida, Floridians continue to struggle to get affordable health care.
- Rick Scott Refuses To Expand Access To Health Care To Nearly A Million Floridians. “Scott did little to make the expansion happen and the Florida Legislature quickly turned down the federal money—leaving almost a million Floridians without health insurance…. If Florida doesn’t expand Medicaid, many of the state’s poorest residents will be left out of the Affordable Care Act, which was created to expand insurance to almost everyone who doesn’t currently have health insurance. On top of that, the law also phases out funding for hospitals that treat people without insurance. If the state does not accept the Medicaid dollars, it could level a serious financial blow to many of the states’ hospitals. Most recently, a report found that since Florida taxpayers will be paying taxes toward Medicaid expansion around the country, not accepting these federal funds means taxpayers will see a $5 billion net loss in the state. (Florida Center For Investigative Reporting, 12/18/13)
- Rick Scott Bans Health Care Navigators, Hinders Access To Health Care. “Florida is one of the states where elected officials fought hardest against the law. The state has refused to set up its own health care exchange or to expand Medicaid, even though it would provide coverage for nearly 1 million additional Floridians…. As navigators prepare for Oct. 1, the day they can begin signing people up for health plans, Scott’s administration recently raised another obstacle. The state health department sent out a directive saying navigators will not be allowed to use any of its offices for outreach and enrolling.” (NPR, 9/18/13)