Republicans in Congress should protect Floridians by protecting healthcare tax credits
As a state representative of a community that relies heavily on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, there are few issues as important as ensuring that my constituents’ healthcare is affordable and accessible.
When I meet with families, one thing I hear repeatedly is concern over the cost of healthcare. Many Floridians share this sentiment. They know that unexpected healthcare costs can affect their bottom line.
This year, President Biden made major strides toward lowering costs when he signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) into law. The bill included tax credits to drive down healthcare costs and provide families relief during the pandemic, while also expanding upon the ACA and guaranteeing coverage that costs less than 8.5% of income.
For the first time ever, millions of Americans were able to enroll in a quality plan for $10 or less. This made healthcare premiums more affordable than ever for Florida families, many saving an average of $2,400 a year. In fact, Florida saw a record 2.7 million Floridians taking part in the marketplace in the past year, many of them able to join because of the new tax credits.
These tax credits have been a lifesaver for Floridians, but they are at risk of expiring if Congress does not make them permanent. We know what could happen if we fail to act. A new report shows that if Congress does not take action, 513,000 Floridians could lose their healthcare and a further 2.6 million would see premiums rise in 2023. Unfortunately, many uninsured people use hospital emergency rooms as their primary care doctor when they need treatment. That cost, in turn, gets passed on to those with insurance and drives up costs for everyone.
Having worked in the nonprofit healthcare sector for more than a decade, I know how important reforms, such as expanding these tax credits, are to keeping healthcare costs down. That’s why I’ve been an advocate in the Legislature for lowering costs, expanding Medicaid and capping the cost of insulin.
These common-sense changes would mean affordable coverage for 1.3 million Floridians and fair pricing for crucial medications. While many red states recognize the value of these changes, Florida is one of only 12 to reject Medicaid expansion.
Unfortunately, the ideological divide between Republicans and Democrats at the state level seems too great. So far, efforts to make progress on these issues have been lackluster at best. That’s why we desperately need action on the federal level.
The ball is now in the
U.S. Senate’s court. The votes of Florida’s Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio could mean continued coverage for millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Floridians. We urgently need to include these tax credits as a permanent part of the ACA and ensure half a million Floridians do not lose their healthcare coverage.
All Floridians deserve equal access to affordable quality healthcare, regardless of their income level, race, age, disability or ethnicity. Republicans in Congress have an incredible opportunity to lead on this issue. It’s time for them to step up.