Florida Legislature Playing Games with Health Care

The Florida legislature is at it again.

Ever since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, aka ObamaCare, lawmakers in Tallahassee have been determined to make the worst of the new health care policy. Not only have they refused to accept billions of dollars in federal money to expand health care coverage to one million people, but now they are attempting to further deregulate health insurance.

SB 1842, which awaits Gov. Scott's approval, would block the Office of Insurance Regulation from reviewing and potentially rejecting rate increases proposed by insurance companies in the years 2014 and 2015. 

Miami-Dade residents traveled to Tallahassee in
April to advocate for better health care in Florida.

A Tampa Bay Times editorial points out that this bill has more sinister intentions that to simply tinker with state policies, saying, "Its transparent intent is to infuriate Floridians over increases in health insurance costs and misdirect their anger toward the federal law."  

Florida CHAIN breaks down exactly how the bill would create problems for consumers while pointing the finger at ObamaCare. This kind of childish politicking hurts Floridians and is an unacceptable way for elected officials to behave. Gov. Scott was on the right track when he finally embraced Medicaid expansion in February; hopefully he can put a stop to this nonsense by vetoing SB 1842.