FL-15 Democratic nominee Alan Cohn says the current healthcare system is broken. He believes healthcare is a human right. The United States spends more money than any other country on healthcare yet ranks 30th in the world on a healthcare index. Since the start of the pandemic, millions of Americans have lost their jobs and are fleeing an impending health risk, especially those with underlying health issues. Ensuring access to quality, affordable healthcare is more important every day.
Florida’s 15th Congressional District is like many other parts of our country. People are afraid to leave their homes for fear of becoming sick. More frightening still are consequences from lack of health insurance. In Polk County, 15.4% under the age of 65 have no health insurance. Beyond initial infection, the coronavirus’s effects can lengthen to long-term chronic conditions. Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pre-existing conditions could stop people from qualifying for health insurance and drive up premiums in any healthcare package. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies cannot deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
Florida is one of a handful of states that have done the least to implement the benefits of the ACA. While 4.2 million people in Florida were covered by Medicaid by July 2018, the state previously rejected federal funding for expansion of Medicaid, resulting in a large Medicaid coverage gap. Florida could close this gap at any moment by accepting federal funding, a move which is supported by two-thirds of Florida voters. An estimated 1.4 million additional people would be covered if Florida accepted the expansion. Florida is one of 18 states actively working to overturn the ACA.
Current U.S. Rep. Ross Spano-R, who was defeated in his primary by Scott Franklin, worked during his term to weaken the ACA. Like Florida’s state-level Republican leadership, his administration has acted against insuring Floridians. In February of 2019, H.R. 986: Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions ACT was introduced in Congress. H.R. 986 would, “Revoke guidance issued by the Trump Administration in October 2018 that encourages states to approve health plans that do not cover preexisting conditions.” Spano voted no. Franklin, the nominee, is even more a Trumpian hard-line supporter. His position on healthcare is a full repeal of the ACA, forcing more than a 1.75 million newly uninsured Floridians to battle insurance companies over policies and pre-existing conditions. Franklin has nobly led Lanier Upshaw Insurance as CEO for more than 20 years. Truly a “party over country” conservative, his policies begin and end with advancing the “agenda of President Donald Trump”, actions clearly against insuring those who need it most in FL-15.
FL-15’s shockingly low rate of insurance only exacerbates other issues faced by residents. In Hillsborough County, where Alan Cohn lives, 12.8% of citizens were uninsured in 2017. Only 16.6% were insured under Medicaid. Health issues and overwhelming medical bills contribute to homelessness, unemployment, and poverty increases locally and nationally. He believes that the health of Americans must be a top priority. “Too many Americans don’t have health insurance,” he said. “The ones that do can’t afford it.” The people of FL-15 deserve better. They deserve quality, affordable healthcare, and they cannot afford to wait any longer.
Written by Left of Center Florida Specialist Cameryn Junck