Thoughts on Health Insurance from March 29th by Rissi Cherie

Social Security, Medicaid cuts will hurt Putnam County residents About one-third of Putnam County residents depend on the federal health insurance program called Medicaid. This data is from 2023 and this includes newborn babies to senior citizens. But President Donald Trump’s administration and the Department of Government Efficiency committee, chaired by the unelected billionaire Elon Musk, are making deep cuts to Medicaid and other services that help the working poor and others who need those programs to live. What is most concerning and irresponsible is that all this will be paid for by unnecessary tax cuts for the wealthy. There also are plans to reduce taxes for corporations and the ultrawealthy, namely billionaires like Musk and Trump. Medicaid reimbursements to states would be slashed. States would have to raise new revenue or reduce Medicaid spending by eliminating coverage and cutting rates paid to physicians, hospitals and nursing homes, per a Kaiser Family Foundation report cited in an article by ProPublica. In March, the Social Security Administration’s website crashed four times in 10 days, and there were not enough workers to answer phones. Florida is the third-largest state in the nation with 30% of residents having incomes way below the federal poverty level. This is more than the overall national percentage of 28.2. So why does the Florida Legislature each year refuse to accept Medicaid expansion dollars through the Affordable Care Act? It appears the prevailing policy for health care for Florida’s poor and working poor is, “Don’t get sick. But if you do get sick, die quickly.” You, your neighbor and all Floridians deserve better. Contact State Sen. Tom Leek and State Rep. Judson Sapp and ask them to accept Medicaid expansion. Contact your two U.S. senators, Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, and tell them to oppose the oppressive DOGE cuts to Medicaid and Social Security. You or a family member may need these services someday.