Rep. Maxwell Frost speaks in Orlando about rising health care costs
Good morning. Uh, I’m Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, and I’m proud to represent my hometown of Central Florida in the United States Congress. This weekend marks the beginning of open enrollment, and folks across the entire state of Florida and the entire nation are seeing exactly what we’ve been warning about during this entire government shutdown. Families are opening their renewal letters and facing sticker shocks of seeing their premiums for healthcare go up anywhere from 50% to 300%. People are being forced to make impossible choices. Do I pay for my healthcare or do I not have health care? Do I have enough money to pay for my rent, for my food? Do I fill my prescription or do I put food on the table? And while families face those critical choices, Republicans in Washington DC have been on vacation for 5 weeks in the middle of *** shutdown that they’ve created. As you can see, I’m here at home because Speaker Mike Johnson has decided to completely shut down the House of Representatives as well. He says he won’t call the House back in session until the government opens, but how will the government open if half of Congress isn’t doing their damn job? Republicans in Congress are refusing to negotiate, and every day their inaction is hurting working families. We have an urgent health care crisis in this country and in this region that they have created. In my district alone, nearly 1 in 4 people rely on the Affordable Care Act. 1 in 4 people. If these tax credits expire, premiums will soar and more than *** million Floridians will lose their coverage. No state has benefited more from the Affordable Care Act in Florida, and no state will be hit harder if these tax credits disappear. The Affordable Care Act remains one of the most groundbreaking laws in our nation’s history, and we should be building on it to improve. If we’re gonna talk about *** world post the Affordable Care Act, it should be Medicare for all health care for every single person, not taking away health care from people without *** single plan behind it. These successful tax credits have been *** lifeline for families already stretched thin because of rising house costs, housing costs, groceries, property insurance, and prescription drugs. Here with me today are Floridians who are feeling the impacts of the health care crisis firsthand. To my left here on this board are the premium increases from families in this district. *** father with multiple jobs, seniors on *** fixed income, young workers just starting out, and *** family of 3 with another baby on the way. That family of 3 has to figure out how they’ll afford $600 more per month on their health care plan. That’s $7200 each year that they have to figure out how to pay because of the inaction of Congress. All while grocery prices go up, housing prices go up, property insurance prices go up, and prescription medications are out the roof. Another constituent shared with us that her family is battling stage 4 breast cancer. Without these credits, they won’t be able to afford the insurance that they need for the life saving medication that they require. And what’s the president doing while families are receiving these letters while families are logging into the Affordable Care Act portal to see how much they’re gonna pay more for their health care. The president is quite literally bulldozing the White House, building *** $300 million ballroom for his billionaire friends. Instead of doing that, he’s partying at Mar *** Lago golfing, traveling the entire country, spending time in Asia and different parts of the entire world and not spending time here in the United States in Washington DC figuring out how we’re gonna open up the government and save health care. And I don’t like to talk about blame in the middle of this shutdown because it really hurts working people. We have federal workers right now who are doing their jobs without *** paycheck. Every single TSA agent at our airport at Orlando International, the people making sure our plans can land and take off safely are air traffic controllers. My own staff, social. Security administration just *** few blocks down the road are doing their job without getting *** paycheck and while all of this is going on, all you have to do is look no further than who runs the House of Representatives. Republicans who runs the United States Senate Republicans and who’s the president of the United States Donald Trump. And they have the audacity to go to the mics and say that they have no power in this moment we are in this shutdown because they rather shut down the government than ensure people can pay for their health care and the entire reason they want to do this is because they want more money in the federal budget so they can give billionaires and mega corporations *** tax break. That’s what it’s all about and it’s the same story we’re all used to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poor. They preach America first. They say it on the campaign trail. They say it on their hats. America first, America first, but there’s nothing America first about letting Americans die. Die because they don’t have health care, die because they can’t afford their prescription drugs die because they don’t have the resources they need to live in this country because this country is too expensive. Even many Republicans in Congress, including people I disagree with on 99.99% of things like Marjorie Taylor Green, has come out and said, I am with the Democrats on this issue. We need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Why did she say that? Because her own kids received the letter and she saw what it means for her constituents. This is what’s going on across the entire country, but I wanna be really clear about something. This shutdown is not an accident. And Trump is using the shutdown to inflict the greatest amount of pain on the greatest amount of people. The administration’s cruelty is not just the point, it is the strategy. It took *** federal judge to force his administration to release SNAP funds so that 40 million Americans, including 16 million children, don’t go hungry. And there’s still gonna be delays. And look, millions of people in this country, this isn’t politics for them, it’s life or death. The whole issue with Snap wasn’t collateral damage because of the shutdown. Trump decided to shut down nutritional assistance and food assistance for millions of our people. Why? To make people suffer so he can make *** political point. That’s not politics, that’s evil. This is something we can’t wait on, and Donald Trump is prepared to throw even more people under the bus. Every member of Congress has to come to the table and has to go to DC. I have been going to DC every single week during this entire shutdown, even though we don’t have session. Why? Because we’re going there to demand that SNAP benefits be restored. We’re going there to demand that we save our health care. We want the government to be open. We don’t want our federal workers, most of which are working class Americans, to go without *** paycheck. But it is up to the Republicans who run the entire federal government to call Congress in the session so we can actually get something done. It is, I believe that it is the job of our government to ensure our people are safe and healthy. There is no greater responsibility, no clearer moral test than ensuring that everyone can see *** doctor, can get the medicine that they need. And live without fear of losing it because they have an illness and unfortunately no matter what Donald Trump and the likes of Elon Musk want us to think we are more closer as *** people to living on the streets to needing the same SNAP benefits that he took away and wanted to take away from millions of Americans than you are, uh, them being *** billionaire. 60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck. Donald Trump ran around this entire country promising everyone he’d do something about it if he was elected, but he was he’s making it worse, and he’s making things better for billionaires just like him. The only reason we’re still fighting this fight is because greed stands in the way, and this is an urgent fight to protect the health of our people, to create *** comprehensive health care system where every single person gets the care that they need when they need it and whether it’s student loans, health care, housing affordability, we can’t accept this argument that working people are living outside of their means and that’s why we’re in this situation it’s not because we live outside of our means it’s because we’ve been denied the means to live. By spineless politicians, by greedy mega corporations, and by the people who have rigged this economy, rigged our democracy, rigged this country for so long, we’ve had enough, and this fight is showing the entire country just what government can do and take away from them as well. They want you to believe that there’s not enough to go around. They want you to believe that because someone else is taking too much, you don’t have what you need. But my message is simple I’ve said the same thing this entire year. The reason you can’t afford your rent has nothing to do with the immigrant. The reason you can’t afford to send your kids to school has nothing to do with *** trans person. The reason why everything’s so damn expensive has nothing to do with black history or diversity, equity and inclusion or your fellow neighbors. You have more in common with the people living next door to you than you do with people in Washington DC like Donald Trump. In the richest country on the face of the earth, I believe that health care is *** human right and that no one should go broke trying to get the health care and the help that they need so let’s reject this politics of scarcity that would have us look at each other for someone to blame for these issues and not at the people who have been in charge for *** long, long time. Let’s save health care. Let’s stop these cuts. Let’s open up our government let’s get back to work and with that I want to introduce one of my constituents. Someone who’s living this crisis every single day, forced to choose between health care and everything else, please give it up for Nathan. Thank you, ma’am appreciate it. Um, well, hi everybody, uh, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I, I appreciate it. I mean, to be honest, I’m usually not someone that likes to be in the spotlight, but I’ve been told that my story matters and after seeing what’s happening here today and talking to everybody here, I, I believe that that is, that is true. Um, yes, my, my name is Nathan Boy. I’m *** husband, father of 3. Um, I’m returned to college later in life as *** student, and then I’m also *** person living with diabetes, uh, and earlier this year, uh, I enrolled in the ACA marketplace, uh, plan, and it was great, very affordable, super reliable, um, actually got all my medications, everything, it was, it was great. It was only $28 *** month, um, and that included 90% of my medications that I needed to stay healthy. Uh, and that, you know, that’s great because it helps me keep my family, we stay on track and I stay alive. I mean, to be, to be blunt, um, but, uh, that’s all changed after, you know, what you, you know, we’ve all heard or described as the big ugly bill, uh, since then I’ve received uh *** flood of messages from my insurer. Uh, I’ve gotten emails, letters, phone calls, um, actually I, I, I brought one to kind of show you guys, but this one came in *** couple days ago. Um, it says that my health premium is gonna be $733 *** month now, um, so after, you know, talking with, uh, with the office and with my representatives here, you know, this, this is just the latest of the estimates, uh, obviously once I file and complete my application in the the portal, I’ll end up getting my my final number. Um, it’s, it should be, I’m expecting it to be right around $200 with the lower subsidy. Um, so yeah, so from $28 to, you know, $2200 you know that increase, you know, it doesn’t, it’s not as much as, as you would think. I mean, it’s *** couple dinner outs for some folks, but, uh, for working families like myself, uh, every, every dollar, every dollar matters. It means it it means I have to cut back somewhere, you know, whether that’s, uh, um, you know, something that impacts the family, impacts myself, impacts something, you know, we have to get the money from somewhere, so unless something changes. I’m gonna be forced to make uh impossible choices that you know I mean essentially means that I could survive another day um no family should have to face that, you know, the Affordable Care Act with the premium tax credits were designed for working families like myself um I could make it makes health care accessible um and affordable for for everybody. Um, so I mean not to borrow the limelight, but we deserve *** system where staying healthy is not *** luxury but one that we can all enjoy. So I know my case is not nearly, you know, as dire as others that I’ve heard here today, um, but, uh, and, and if I had *** choice I’d rather give them my coverage because they need it more than me, but anyway. Yeah I’m bringing up, uh, Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith. Thank you, Congressman, and thank you Nathan for sharing your story and for all of the constituents who have been reaching out to our office to share their story as well, reaching out to Congressman Frost’s office to share their stories. We know that many of them were actually published in the Orlando Sentinel over the weekend because it’s important that people understand the human cost. Of what will happen when these subsidies for the Affordable Care Act expire. What’s happening in DC right now, it’s not abstract policy. It is very personal and very real for our constituents here in Central Florida because of this shutdown and because of their big betrayal law. Millions of working families are facing the skyrocketing health care costs. They’re facing cuts to Medicaid and the threat of losing affordable health care coverage altogether. Here in Congressman Frost’s 10th congressional district, 76,000 people stand to lose their health insurance if Congress fails to extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credits. We know another 189,000 Floridians will see their premiums skyrocket, an increase in an average of $530 extra *** month. That’s just the average. These subsidies have been *** lifeline to these families. They’ve helped them afford coverage and saved an average of $705 annually for each of these enrollees. But if these subsidies expire. What we will see is that 4 million Americans nationwide could lose coverage. We will see that hospitals across the country will lose $32 billion in revenue because that healthcare coverage would have been paid for. Now it is unreimbursed care that will cost the state of Florida. That will cost taxpayers, states like Florida will be forced to shoulder billions of dollars in extra unnecessary burden for this uncompensated care. That is not fiscal responsibility. It is not fiscally conservative. It is cruelty that is disguised as policy. Meanwhile, right now our governor has the power. To protect Florida families from the worst consequences of the shutdown, let me be clear, under state law, he can declare *** state of emergency. He can declare *** state of emergency on food insecurity, and he can tap into the nearly $5 billion of our state’s rainy day fund to temporarily cover the cost of SNAP benefits that are not currently available. Why is that so important? Because 15.3% of Orange County family households, 15.3% of Orange County households, rely on these SNAP benefits to eat. If this is not *** state of emergency. I don’t know what is. We all saw earlier this year for, I think over the 12th time, the governor renewed his state of emergency. On immigration He renewed the state of emergency over *** dozen times. And when he renewed that state, so-called state of emergency, he tapped into over $300 million in public money. To build the Everglades detention camp that they called Alligator Alcatraz. Why can’t he declare *** state of emergency on food insecurity to make sure that children across the state of Florida are fed? It is about priorities. So today we are leaning in again and calling on the governor to declare that state of emergency, but he can do more. He can authorize our state agencies to draw from emergency funds to fill the gap. He can direct our state Department of Children and Families to coordinate with local food banks and community partners to ensure that no child goes hungry. He can also expand school meal programs to be universal across the state of Florida during this shutdown. These are tangible and concrete actions that our state and our governor can take. To actually be part of the solution. So right now, We know that many of us in the Florida Senate are putting forward affordability solutions. Already this year I have filed Senate Bill 220 to guarantee 12 weeks of paid family leave for our state employees because no one should have to choose between having *** job and being able to care for *** newborn or *** new child that they have adopted. We’ve also filed Senate Bill 222. To cap the price of insulin at $35 *** month for those who have private insurance because let’s not forget it’s not just those who are uninsured who are struggling with the affordability crisis, even people who have coverage. We are struggling to afford the payments and out of pocket costs related to that coverage. We’ve also introduced legislation to try to bring down property insurance rates that will cap managing agent fees. Managing agent fees sound *** lot like BS fees that they have been using to shield their profits through their subsidies, and all of this was exposed. In an unpublished state agency report that was only made available to lawmakers earlier this year, 2 years after we enacted reforms that the insurance companies told us were required for them to stay solvent. And yes, at the state level we will continue to fight for Medicaid expansion. Medicaid expansion is critical. Florida is one of only 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Red Republican states have already done this ahead of us. Why not Florida? We can insure an extra 800,000 uninsured Floridians by expanding Medicaid. We can actually save our state money. $200 million *** year every year if we expand Medicaid and we can bring home almost $3 billion with *** B in federal funds that we have currently left on the table because the Florida legislature made *** policy decision not to expand Medicaid. We know that Florida families are paying for this negligence and these misplaced priorities, but it does not have to be this way. We can extend those Affordable Care Act tax credits, we can expand Medicaid, we can protect SNAPP. And we can ensure that every Floridian, no matter what their zip code, uh, what their income is or what their pre-existing condition is, that they have access to affordable, high quality healthcare. So let’s put people over politics for once and make sure that every Florida family knows that. Public leaders like Congressman Maxwell Frost and myself and Commissioner Maribel Cordero that we are all fighting for them and we have their backs. Thank you. Um, next of another constituent personally, um, impacted, um, Eric Rollins. Thank you, Congressman, and good morning. My name’s Eric Rawlings. I’m *** self-employed person here in Orlando. Uh, this weekend I paid my health insurance. Um, I have Florida Blue and it was $581.25. On New Year’s, I will be paying $1,238.97. That’s *** 113% increase, and that is the same coverage. That’s the same plan. Uh, the only other thing that also increased was the um out of pocket, that increased another 1000, and they couldn’t tell me if my copays are gonna be increased, but they think it might. So, just 6 weeks ago, I joined 1.2 million people who have received *** heart stent. In the past year, I didn’t have an option to go, I don’t have an option to go without insurance. If you’ve had *** heart stent procedure, you know, there are several medications you must take daily, at least for 6 months, maybe *** year, or maybe *** lifetime, just depending on your case. The doctors that care for the 1.2 million people like me, often prescribe Entresto. It’s an essential medication and *** 180 day supply without insurance is $2600.99. So I don’t have an option to be without healthcare. And sho at just one and that’s just one medication and there’s millions of you and our friends that have no options but to pay their insurance because there are *** lot of people that are dealing with things way worse than what I’m going through with cancers, with pediatric cancer. All these, all these people are not gonna have coverage if they can’t pay their insurance. I think that this is *** *** really insane and hurtful increase and for me, for my friends that own businesses and restaurants I wanna apologize in advance because I’m probably not gonna be able to see you at least for the time being because I don’t know where this is. I don’t know if this is going to get better or if it’s gonna get worse, but I know I can’t be without the medication that I’m being prescribed to right now. I can’t be without that insurance, so that $657 that powers our local economy at our restaurants, at our, um, at our, our stores and. All the other places and the nonprofits that I donate to, I’m not sure if I’m gonna be able to volunteer and give like I used to, and they’ve already been impacted by the federal and state cuts. Our charities rely on people locally like me and like you. To help residents that are dealing through even tougher times and these are horrible decisions they have to make. If the Republicans would stop this billionaire crusade, we can continue to help others in our community. And what else is scary because all this is impacting the next person down. Think about all the people that are getting the same information that I got this weekend that all of us got this weekend that we’re planning *** trip to come down to Orlando. This is their vacation. Do you think what’s the first thing they’re gonna cut? They’re gonna cut coming down here, and we know that that’s gonna impact all of us from the parks to the hotels to the people that are gonna be laid off because the people aren’t coming down here. So when they realize how much their health care is increasing, I, I wonder if the Republicans are gonna be notified by their family members like was mentioned earlier or their neighbors or the school teachers or anybody else that is paying into *** system that is already broken that is only gonna make this worse. The Republicans have made these changes negatively impacting our our economy and our quality of life. I wish that they would look at this devastating impact that have on our kids, on our neighbors, and you, uh, my friend Amanda right before I came here today, uh, she’s got two kids and both her and her husband are self-employed and their increase, uh, now they’re paying 38, they’re gonna have to pay $3800 *** month. Now this economy is not that great, and if they are not, if they lose the contract, what does that mean? What if one of their kids or her or her husband has to go through what I’m going through right now? I mean this is, this is gonna be devastating to people locally and nationally. So thank you for Congressman Frost for caring. thank you all for being here and uh. I wish for better times for all of us. Thank you.
Rep. Maxwell Frost speaks in Orlando about rising health care costs
Updated: 12:22 PM EST Nov 3, 2025
U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost spoke in Orlando on Monday about the rising health care costs as the Affordable Care Act open enrollment begins.This comes as the government shutdown approaches what could become the longest in U.S. history, leaving Americans uncertain about their health care coverage and access to critical government services.Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the end of subsidies for health care, meaning the cost of health care is expected to skyrocket for many. Frost was joined by Central Floridians impacted by the expiring ACA tax credits and local elected officials. >> Watch a replay above
ORLANDO, Fla. —
U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost spoke in Orlando on Monday about the rising health care costs as the Affordable Care Act open enrollment begins.
This comes as the government shutdown approaches what could become the longest in U.S. history, leaving Americans uncertain about their health care coverage and access to critical government services.
Republicans and Democrats are at odds over the end of subsidies for health care, meaning the cost of health care is expected to skyrocket for many.
Frost was joined by Central Floridians impacted by the expiring ACA tax credits and local elected officials.
>> Watch a replay above