Florida braces for healthcare changes as Obamacare tax credits set to expire
PATIENTS ARE COMING BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD INSURANCE. LET’S FACE IT. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WITH OBAMACARE ARE WORKING. UNDERINSURED. PEOPLE. >> 2.2 MILLION FLORIDIANS ARE FACING THE PROSPECT OF LOSING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE RIGHT NOW. THEIR COVERAGE UNDER OBAMACARE DEPENDS ON SPECIAL TAX CREDITS THAT ARE ABOUT TO RUN OUT. IF CONGRESS DOESN’T ACT, SOME FAMILIES COULD SEE THEIR INSURANCE COSTS JUMPED BY AS MUCH AS 75%. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER DAVE ELIAS EXPLAINS. >> FLORIDA LEADS THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO RELYING ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. IN FACT, ABOUT 4.7 MILLION PEOPLE GET THEIR INSURANCE THROUGH WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS OBAMACARE AND NEARLY HALF OF ONLY HAVE INSURANCE BECAUSE THESE EXTRA TAX CREDITS MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FIGHTING FOR BETTER HEALTH CARE. I THINK HEALTH CARE IN GENERAL ISN’T THAT GREAT. IF THOSE CREDITS EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, MANY WILL SEE THEIR PREMIUMS GO UP. THE OBAMACARE WASN’T GOOD TO BEGIN WITH. >> IT’S LIKE TO BE GOOD. NOW. I THINK JUST TOTAL DISASTER FOR EVERYBODY. AND IN SOME CASES, RATES WILL DOUBLE AND FOR WORKING FAMILIES, THAT’S MONEY. THEY SIMPLY DON’T HAVE. I DON’T THINK I COULD DO IT. NOT ON MY INCOME. EXPERTS WARNED THAT LOSING COVERAGE MEANS THAT MORE UNINSURED PEOPLE WILL SEE BIGGER MEDICAL BILLS AND OVERCROWDED EMERGENCY ROOMS. PRICES ARE REALLY HIGH WHEN YOU WILL, TOO LATE. THE EMERGENCY ROOM. HE COULD ALSO PUT A STRAIN ON FLORIDA’S ECONOMY. AND HERE’S WHY ANALYSTS SAY THAT A FAMILY OF 4 EARNING ABOUT $64,000 PAYS $5400 A YEAR. BUT WITHOUT THE TAX CREDITS THAT COULD INCREASE MORE THAN 2500 LEAVING FAMILIES PAYING NEARLY $8,000 A YEAR WITH OUR RED NOTIFIED OUR CLIENTS. BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN YET. IT STILL IS. BUT IF YOU’RE WITH UNIT THIS TO INSURANCE CELLS, OBAMACARE POLICIES AND THE FEEDBACK HASN’T BEEN GOOD. UNFORTUNATELY, IF THE PRICE INCREASES, MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WITHOUT COVERAGE. LET’S FACE IT. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WITH OBAMACARE ARE WORKING. UNDERINSURED PEOPLE DR. SUE HOOK RUNS THE SAMARITAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN CAPE CORAL. SHE CHARGES A FLAT RATE FOR UNDERINSURED AND THOSE WITHOUT INSURANCE WE SEE PATIENTS CONSTANTLY WHO HAVE GONE YEARS WITHOUT INSURANCE. AND WHILE THE PRICE TAG TO KEEP THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE CREDITS, LONG-TERM IS HIGH. ABOUT 370 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS. I THINK SAMARITAN WE’LL SEE BEGIN LUX OF PATIENTS. ADVOCATES WARN THAT THE HUMAN COST OF LETTING THEM GO COULD BE EVEN HIGHER PRIMARY. HEALTHCARE IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING AND THAT’S WHY THEY END UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH UNCONTROLLED DIABETES OR HEART DISEASE OR THOSE KIND OF THINGS. NOW, WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, IT DID NOT INCLUDE THOSE TAX CREDITS FOR LOWER INSURANCE. SO UNLESS CONGRESS STEPS IN TO HELP, THE RATES ARE EXPECTED TO HIKE O
Florida braces for healthcare changes as Obamacare tax credits set to expire
Florida, which leads the nation in reliance on the Affordable Care Act, may see significant changes as tax credits that make insurance affordable for nearly half of its 4.7 million users are set to expire at the end of the year.Andrea Denella from Cape Coral expressed her concerns, saying, “We’re fighting for healthcare. I don’t think healthcare in general is that great.” She added, “The Obamacare wasn’t good to begin with, and it’s not going to be good now. I think it’s just a total disaster for everybody.”If the credits expire, many will face increased premiums, with some rates potentially doubling, posing a financial challenge for working families. Mike Mandalaro, also from Cape Coral, shared his apprehension, stating, “I don’t think I could do it. Not on my income.”Experts warn that losing coverage could lead to more uninsured individuals facing higher medical bills and overcrowded emergency rooms. Yaiselis Bordaveree from UniVista Insurance said, “Prices are really high when you go to the emergency room.”The potential expiration of these tax credits could also strain Florida’s economy. Analysts highlight that a family of four earning $64,000 annually currently pays $5,400 for insurance, but without the credits, this could increase by more than $2,500, resulting in nearly $8,000 a year in premiums. Bordaveree said, “We’ve already notified our clients, but we don’t know what is going to happen yet.” She added, “Unfortunately, if the prices increase, many people are going to be without coverage.”Dr. Sue Hook, who runs Samaritan Health & Wellness in Cape Coral, charges a flat rate for the underinsured and uninsured. She said, “Let’s face it. Most of the people we’re talking about with Obamacare are working underinsured people.” Hook said, “We see patients constantly who have gone years without insurance.” She anticipates a significant influx of patients if the credits are removed, saying, “I think Samaritan will see a big influx of patients when this is totally off the table.”Advocates warn that the human cost of losing these credits could be substantial. Hook emphasized, “Primary care is what people aren’t getting, and that is why they end up in the hospital with uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease or those kind of things.”The expiration of these tax credits is linked to President Trump’s “one big beautiful bill,” which did not include provisions for lower insurance costs. Unless Congress intervenes, the credits are set to expire on Dec. 31.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
Florida, which leads the nation in reliance on the Affordable Care Act, may see significant changes as tax credits that make insurance affordable for nearly half of its 4.7 million users are set to expire at the end of the year.
Andrea Denella from Cape Coral expressed her concerns, saying, “We’re fighting for healthcare. I don’t think healthcare in general is that great.” She added, “The Obamacare wasn’t good to begin with, and it’s not going to be good now. I think it’s just a total disaster for everybody.”
If the credits expire, many will face increased premiums, with some rates potentially doubling, posing a financial challenge for working families.
Mike Mandalaro, also from Cape Coral, shared his apprehension, stating, “I don’t think I could do it. Not on my income.”
Experts warn that losing coverage could lead to more uninsured individuals facing higher medical bills and overcrowded emergency rooms.
Yaiselis Bordaveree from UniVista Insurance said, “Prices are really high when you go to the emergency room.”
The potential expiration of these tax credits could also strain Florida’s economy. Analysts highlight that a family of four earning $64,000 annually currently pays $5,400 for insurance, but without the credits, this could increase by more than $2,500, resulting in nearly $8,000 a year in premiums.
Bordaveree said, “We’ve already notified our clients, but we don’t know what is going to happen yet.” She added, “Unfortunately, if the prices increase, many people are going to be without coverage.”
Dr. Sue Hook, who runs Samaritan Health & Wellness in Cape Coral, charges a flat rate for the underinsured and uninsured. She said, “Let’s face it. Most of the people we’re talking about with Obamacare are working underinsured people.”
Hook said, “We see patients constantly who have gone years without insurance.” She anticipates a significant influx of patients if the credits are removed, saying, “I think Samaritan will see a big influx of patients when this is totally off the table.”
Advocates warn that the human cost of losing these credits could be substantial. Hook emphasized, “Primary care is what people aren’t getting, and that is why they end up in the hospital with uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease or those kind of things.”
The expiration of these tax credits is linked to President Trump’s “one big beautiful bill,” which did not include provisions for lower insurance costs. Unless Congress intervenes, the credits are set to expire on Dec. 31.
DOWNLOAD the free for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
