obamacare | WFSU

Andrew Gillum Proposes Strengthening Health Insurance Protections

By Sarah Mueller • May 9, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said he’ll pass legislation to strengthen health insurance provisions if he’s elected governor. Gillum says his proposed legislation was prompted by the U.S. House vote repealing the Affordable Care Act last week.

Fla. Congressman Urges GOP Colleagues Not To Cancel Town Halls Due To Angry Protestors

By Sascha Cordner • Mar 1, 2017

A North Florida Congressman is calling on his fellow Republicans across the U.S. to not cancel their town halls due to angry protestors.

Gov. Scott National Comments On Overhauling Health Care Criticised At Home

By Sarah Mueller • Mar 1, 2017

Governor Scott's Office

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has been talking up the Republican Congress’ plans for the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare. But while he’s in Washington D.C. meeting with President Donald Trump’s administration, his public comments are being criticized at home.

UNC Expert: Trump's Obamacare Attacks Misleading

By Jim Ash • Oct 27, 2016

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is blasting double-digit increases in Obamacare premiums just as the administration gears up for the Nov. 1st start of open enrollment.

Premiums From The Pulpit: ACA Includes Faith-Based Health Options

By Lynn Hatter • Dec 5, 2014

Millions of people could qualify for lower rates on federally-subsidized insurance plans offered in state and federal exchanges. But those plans may not work for everyone, especially for families who prioritize faith. Now some of those families are looking for healthcare solutions off the exchanges.

A month ago, Sarah Ryan added a new member to her family.

Capital Report: 03-07-2014

By wfsunews • Mar 7, 2014

Years after it became law, the Federal Affordable Care Act – “Obamacare” if you prefer – is still a topic of ferocious debate and political grandstanding. Florida was one of the states that chose not to set up a health care exchange of its own in support of the federal law. But, quietly and without much fanfare, Florida did roll out a health insurance marketplace of sorts earlier this week. Lynn Hatter reports that marketplace should not be confused with the federal health insurance exchanges and should by no means be associated with Obamacare..

Can AGs Pick And Choose Which State Laws To Defend, Like Gay Marriage Bans?

By Sascha Cordner • Jan 31, 2014

Attorneys General around the country are split over whether they will defend their respective gay marriage bans. Some, like Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, say she’ll defend the law, while others say they won’t. So, how are Attorneys General able to pick and choose which state laws they want to defend?

Capital Report: 11-15-2013

By wfsunews • Nov 15, 2013

This week, it’s been almost impossible to escape the unrelenting coverage of Obamacare. The persistent problems with the federal sign-up web site, millions of individual plans cancelled. Florida has certainly not been immune to all the debate and uncertainties about health care. For instance, there’s more than one insurance provider in the northern part of the state, but you wouldn’t know it just by looking at the federal government’s health insurance exchange web site. One of the region’s top insurers isn’t on it and, as Lynn Hatter reports, that’s leaving many people with essentially

Some Floridians Afraid, Others Applaud House Republicans' Stance As Shutdown Looms

By Jessica Palombo • Sep 30, 2013

Congress remains at an impasse with just hours left before the deadline for passing a federal budget. Residents in the Big Bend area are worried government services could slow down or stop if agreement is not reached in Washington.

Seventy-seven-year-old Ann Prescott lives in Tallahassee. She says she’s concerned about whether she’ll continue getting Social Security checks if there’s a federal shutdown. And a phone call to her local Social Security Administration office did little to quell her fears. She asked the woman on the phone if she could count on her monthly check.

Scott Raises Privacy Concerns About Navigators; Healthcare Reform Advocates Say He's Blowing Smoke

By Ryan Benk • Aug 23, 2013

Months after reversing his position on expanding Medicaid coverage in Florida, Gov. Scott and other members of the Florida Cabinet say they aren’t sure giving personal information to insurance navigators is a safe bet. This week, Scott even accused the federal government of using a person’s sensitive information to populate a national database.

“We cannot stop the president’s plan to create a new federal database that compiles person information on Floridians and all U.S. citizens who enter the federal healthcare exchanges,” Scott said during a cabinet meeting Tuesday in Miami.

Delay In Large-Employer Insurance Mandate Gets Mixed Reactions In Florida

By Lynn Hatter • Jul 3, 2013

Some business groups see a decision by the Obama Administration to delay a key part of the Affordable Care Act as a small victory in a bigger fight against the law, while others view it as start to scoring larger victories.

Employers with 50 or more employees will now have until 2015 to offer health insurance – a year later than the original deadline. Herrle says the delay is a small win, but there are still concerns:

Florida Healthcare Future Uncertain

By Tom Flanigan • Jul 20, 2012

Now that the federal healthcare reform law has passed U.S. Supreme Court muster, how might that affect the future of healthcare in Florida? That was the question a state insurance panel debated this week. Several predictions were tossed around: None of them good, and all of them uncertain.

The formal name for the panel is the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board. State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, who chairs the group, said there was one overriding purpose for the meeting.