TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV\/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Millions of Floridians are facing a health care crisis as enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire in two weeks, forcing families to choose between coverage and their budgets.<\/p>\n
More Floridians rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace for health insurance than any other state. The Census Bureau says more than 4.7 million people in the state are enrolled in marketplace plans.<\/p>\n
Since Congress didn\u2019t extend COVID-era tax credits on those plans, people like Carlos Otero in Miami are experiencing sticker shock.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, it came with a surprise of 900% incremental spike in my premiums, in my monthly premiums, which is already crazy,\u201d Otero said.<\/p>\n
Otero said to afford coverage, he had to switch plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will need to make choices,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m afraid I\u2019m going to be disrupting my care, my current care, because now I need to switch providers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reality is affecting millions across the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe emotional impact is real. It increases my stress, my anxiety, and my fear of slipping back into my health,\u201d said Lynnette Bidwell, who relies on marketplace coverage. \u201cSudden cost increase doesn\u2019t just disrupt coverage. They disrupt lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Rick Scott is leading the charge to replace the Affordable Care Act in Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust remember, Obamacare has been a disaster,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
He filed the More Affordable Care Act, which would make the health care system more transparent, allow people to shop for coverage across state lines and send subsidies straight to people instead of insurance companies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to drive the cost of health care down. The only group that\u2019s going to drive the health care costs down is when people act like consumers,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
The deadline to sign up for marketplace insurance is January 15. That coverage would begin in February. It\u2019s too late to sign up for coverage starting January 1.<\/p>\n
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