Millions of people could lose their Medicaid coverage starting tomorrow when the pandemic health emergency ends.
Almost 3 years ago, the federal government began sending billions of dollars in supplemental Medicaid funds to states so that they would not exclude the poor from the health care program. Congress has decided that today, March 31, that extension ends, and in the case of Florida, nearly a quarter of residents could lose their health insurance starting tomorrow.
During the public health emergency, the federal government sent budget lines to states to keep people enrolled in Medicaid, but those payments are running out and starting tomorrow, thousands of people would be left without that health coverage. .
Marcos Mestre, medical director at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, says: “We will always treat them whether they have insurance or not, but the problem is when they have to leave the hospital.”
Lawyer Lynn Hearn works for a non-profit organization. He told us that there are at least a million and a half more people on Medicaid now than 3 years ago, and children are what worries him the most, he said.
“There are children who are in the emergency room and their parents discover that they no longer have coverage and that their state of health is chronic. These kids are supposed to be the last to check if their cover is dropped.
The elderly, with delicate health conditions and low resources are the other group of society with a serious problem in this situation.
Odalys Arévalo, from “The Godmothers of Insurance”, says:
“The message is don’t panic, they will have time to switch from Medicaid to Obamacare.”
The governor is expected tomorrow to order the cleansing of nearly 900,000 people who will no longer be eligible for Medicaid, says a statement signed by Florida’s Democratic Party chairman, and assures DeSantis does not have the intention to extend such coverage.
Mike Hernández, political analyst for Telemundo 51
“And we will continue to see Florida as one of the few states in the nation that has decided to reject federal funds for the expansion of Medicaid, which is a service for the poor. ideological.
People who want to know if they are still eligible to continue with Medicaid can find more information on the Florida Department of Health website or call 850-300-4323.