Why the policy is an issue

Healthcare policy is crucial to comprehensive healthcare systems, especially in
reducing the cost citizens have to pay to access care. Without effective health policy, access
to quality healthcare is impeded. On the same note, the rising cost of healthcare in the U.S.
continues to put a stain on citizens’ disposable incomes as well as that of the state. In Florida,
about 41% of residents were insured through their employers in 2014, and the number of
uninsured Floridians was 19%, which was higher than the national average (Norris, 2021).
However, more people have been covered under Medicaid, and the number of uninsured
residents in Florida went down by 20% to 14.01% in 2019 (Commonwealth Fund, 2020).

What impact it has on the target population

Florida is among the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage as stipulated
under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). People in the coverage gap, whose income is too law
to exchange subsidies, would benefit from Medicaid expansion. According to Norris (2021),
1,378,000 Florida residents are missing out on health coverage because the state has not
accepted federal Medicaid expansion. An additional 415,000 people have no realistic access
to health coverage without Medicaid expansion. Basically, Florida’s House and Senate are
under Republicans control and thus any push for Medicaid by democrats is constantly
blocked.
In the U.S., numerous Medicare beneficiaries receive Medicaid assistance to help cover
premiums, long-term care costs, and reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Moreover, Florida
loses as much as $66.1 billion in Medicaid funding by not expanding the program (Norris,
2021).

Present pros and cons of the policy

According to a research study by the Health Policy Project organization, Medicaid
expansion was found to have minimal negative consequences to states and their residents.
One of the biggest benefits of Medicaid expansion is that it closes the coverage gap in many
states. On average, Medicaid helps states reduce healthcare costs by $149 million, as well as
generate nearly 3,000 jobs to boost economic development (Utah Health Policy Project,
2013).
By failing to expand Medicaid, more Florida families will remain in the coverage gap,
notably adults without children and with incomes under 100% federal poverty level.
Additionally, adults or caregivers with children and with incomes between 44% and 100%
federal poverty line will have no reasonable healthcare coverage option (Garfield et al.,
2021). Ultimately, states will not save costs from public assistance projects and will continue
to incur hefty healthcare budgets.

Policy implementation impact

The most remarkable impact of Medicaid expansion is the increased access to
healthcare coverage for uninsured Florida residents, which will help minimize the health
coverage gap in the state. Moreover, citizens will be able to easily access healthcare and
required drugs, boosting their quality of life and reducing premature deaths. In the state, a
large percentage of residents agree that the rising cost of healthcare is among their primary
reasons for not seeking health care (Garfield et al., 2021). Therefore, expansion of Medicaid
will contribute to better heath statuses, decreased mortality rates, and ultimately, higher
access-to-care indices.

References

Commonwealth Fund. (2020). The Commonwealth Fund – 2020 Scorecard on State Health System
Performance. The Commonwealth Fund. https://2020scorecard.commonwealthfund.org/
Garfield, R., Orgera, K., & Damico, A. (2021). The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in
States that Do Not Expand Medicaid . Kaiser Family Foundation.
https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/the-coverage-gap-uninsured-poor-adults-in-states-
that-do-not-expand-medicaid/
Norris, L. (2021). ACA Medicaid expansion in Florida . Healthinsurance.Org.
https://www.healthinsurance.org/medicaid/florida/
Utah Health Policy Project. (2013). Pros and Cons of Medicaid Expansion: A Summary of the
PCG Report. Utah Health Policy Project.
http://www.healthpolicyproject.org/Publications_files/Medicaid/2013/13-06-
PCG%202%20Page%20Brief.pdf