We should support Medicaid expansion
To the editor:
Why would Floridians not want to have more people covered by Medicaid? Medicaid is a federal program, administered by states, that helps low-income families get medical care. At present, Florida restricts this to an annual income of $30,305 for a family of three. Are you kidding? Who can support a family of three on only $30,000 a year AND pay for health care and everything else for their children?
The Medicaid Expansion being offered to Florida right now would raise the level to 138 percent of the poverty level or $41,820. For a family of three that is still not a lot! If we did that, about 1,370,000 more people would qualify. Would that cost you and me more taxes? No! Florida would get a 5 percent bonus on the Medicaid payments they already get from the federal government. According to The Commonwealth Fund, as more people get Medicaid, state and local governments pay less for health care for the uninsured, and mental health and substance abuse services. In addition, this creates job growth! A little under half of the employment growth would be in healthcare, with the other half creating jobs in construction, retail, finance and insurance. The entire economy benefits.
Our healthcare system is already overburdened, and understaffed. What in the world is the problem with accepting federal funding for Medicaid? The governor already accepted a ton of money from the Biden American Rescue Plan and COVID stimulus. I just don’t get it. If you think the healthcare sector deserves some support, and that $41,000 is hardly enough for a family of three, tell your representatives to support Medicaid expansion!
Isabel Francis, MPA, MSN, RN
Bokeelia
(Source of information for reference — https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2021/may/economic-employment-effects-medicaid-expansion-under-arp)