Charlie Crist Calls on DeSantis to Expand Medicaid as 1M Floridians Could Lose Health Coverage in April

The US Rep. says Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature “are missing in action on what’s important to most Floridians,” and promises that, if elected governor, he will veto any state budget that does not include Medicaid expansion.

An estimated 15 million Americans, including over 1 million Floridians, could lose their Medicaid insurance when the pandemic-era Public Health Emergency expires in April, and states are forced to go through their Medicaid rolls to see who is no longer eligible, an Urban Institute report revealed.

Given that more than half of Medicaid recipients identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, or another non-white race or ethnicity, this is likely to have a disproportionate impact on low-income communities of color, according to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), a non-partisan legislative branch agency that provides policy and data analysis.

For this reason, Florida US Rep. Charlie Crist is calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to expand Medicaid, saying the Republican incumbent has “turned his back on seniors, particularly those in minority.” 

Citizens become eligible for Medicare –government subsidized health insurance– at age 65. Roughly a quarter of Florida’s population, or 6 million people, are over the age of 60.

Calling Out DeSantis’ ‘Heartless Leadership’

“Affordable health insurance for all Floridians should be a no-brainer. But under Governor DeSantis’ Florida, the Republican-led legislature continues to turn their backs while millions of Floridians go uninsured. It’s unconscionable,” said Crist, who is running to unseat the Republican contender in November.

“Another one million Floridians could soon fall victim to this heartless leadership when the pandemic support expires, and their Medicaid coverage disappears,” added Crist in a statement. “There’s a simple solution — expand Florida’s Medicaid coverage now, DeSantis. It’s the right thing to do.”

Crist went on to announce that, as governor, he will veto any budget that does not expand Medicaid. Among others, the goal is to provide More COVID protection assistance for seniors in their homes, an increase in aid and protective regulations for those with disabilities, and Medicare prescription drug prices for all.