Medicaid Expansion Campaign

The Just Health Care committee believes that healthcare is a human right. It should be affordable and accessible to all. We have generally been working for improved Medicare for All, but our immediate goal is for expansion of Medicaid in Florida.

In Florida currently, the conditions for receiving Medicaid health insurance coverage are extremely stringent.  You have to be a parent and have income of less than 30% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $7,000 for a family of three). Under the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”)  the federal government will cover 90% of the cost of expanding coverage to all residents who earn up to 138% of the FPL, about ($29,000 for a family of three) whether or not they are parents.   

Whether it’s due to malice or ignorance the Florida legislature has refused to accept these funds

Before the Covid-19 pandemic almost 900,000 Floridians had no health insurance. Now the need is even greater as thousands of others have lost their jobs and have thus lost the health insurance which used to be connected to their employment.    

We need to  put pressure on the next legislature to accept Medicaid expansion and the federal funds which go with it. The ACLC is working with Medicaid Matters for Florida, a statewide coalition. To attract  legislators’ attention, we are seeking to have local municipalities pass resolutions in support.  Such resolutions have been before the Gainesville City Commission and the Alachua County Commission. Other activities are being developed and will be announced via email and social media.

We are also working with the League of Women Voters, another member of the Medicaid Matters Coalition.  It is seeking volunteers to contact local groups to educate members about the benefits of expansion. It is looking for people with contacts in the business community, knowledge about social media, who are willing to speak or write on the issue or just want to help. For more information or to volunteer contact Diane Dimperio at dianedimp@gmail.com.