Latest news with #LynnHearn
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" threatens Medicaid access for millions in Florida, advocates warn
Millions of Floridians could lose access to life-saving Medicaid coverage under a new legislation that slashes billions of dollars in federal funding, health advocates warn. The Florida Health Justice Project estimates the legislation will cut about $4 billion annually in federal Medicaid support to the state, impacting at least one million current recipients. While it's unclear exactly who will lose coverage, advocates say the most vulnerable populations — including elderly residents who rely on Medicaid to help pay for Medicare premiums and legal immigrants with temporary status — will be among the first affected. "There's really just one step away from sheer panic," said Lynn Hearn of the Florida Health Justice Project. "If you have a person with a severe disability, they are relying upon the services of Medicaid literally to stay alive." In Florida, roughly four million low-income individuals or people with disabilities depend on Medicaid, the government-funded health insurance program. Florida residents with disabilities fear tighter Medicaid restrictions Paolo Linares, a Liberty City resident, is among them. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD, she lives at home but was hoping to gain independence by moving out. She said the new restrictions could make Medicaid inaccessible when she needs it most. "This type of paperwork may make it harder in the case that I may need it," Linares said. "If you're going to put more stricter things on this, what are you going to do to help these people?" Clinics may close as Medicaid cuts ripple through Florida's health system The ripple effects could reach beyond Medicaid recipients. Hearn said as fewer people are able to seek care, medical providers may not be able to stay in business — affecting access for even those who remain insured. "When there aren't as many people who are insured and able to go to the doctor and get services, then those service providers aren't able to maintain their business," she said. "And then they shut down." Among those expected to lose coverage are refugees, asylum seekers, parolees, and others from countries like Afghanistan and Syria who are in the U.S. legally but lack permanent resident status. "These are people who have been able to get coverage for their families, but that will end," Hearn said. She added that the next state budget cycle will likely force Florida to make tough choices about what Medicaid benefits to continue funding. For now, the Florida Health Justice Project said it will focus efforts on lobbying state lawmakers to secure alternative funding for the program.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida's Medicaid Disaster: 1.3 Million Cut From Coverage, One of the Highest Disenrollment Rates in the U.S.
Between March 2023 and October 2024, Florida saw a sharp drop in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment, going from 5.1 million to 3.8 million participants. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), that's a staggering loss of about 1.3 million people – the biggest drop seen in many states. This all started with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in March 2020, which ensured people stayed on Medicaid throughout the pandemic, skipping the usual eligibility checks. That meant Florida's Medicaid numbers shot up from 3.8 million in early 2020 to 5.5 million by late 2022, as reported by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Don't Miss: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —? Then, in December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which separated Medicaid's continuous coverage rule from the public health emergency. That meant states could start checking eligibility again as of April 1, 2023. Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) quickly got to work reviewing cases, and by the end of 2023, more than 911,000 people – including about 420,000 children – had lost their coverage, according to Health News Florida. On a national level, as of September 2024, over 25 million people had been disenrolled from Medicaid since the renewal process restarted. Some states, like Montana, saw disenrollment rates as high as 57%, while North Carolina's was just 12%. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — The rate in Florida was 38%, one of the highest in the country. According to KFF, about 64% of those dropped from coverage in Florida weren't actually deemed ineligible – they just missed paperwork deadlines or had issues completing the renewal process. This kind of procedural disenrollment can happen for all sorts of reasons – maybe a family moved and didn't get a notice in the mail, or they didn't realize they needed to reapply. Administrative errors have also played a role. Lynn Hearn, director of advocacy at the Florida Health Justice Project, told Health News Florida, 'We are seeing a high volume of errors being made in the eligibility determinations.'The biggest concern is how children have been affected. Between April 2023 and April 2024, Florida saw a net drop of 647,243 kids and young adults (under 20) from Medicaid. While some families shifted to Florida KidCare, the state's CHIP program, that increase was only 88,409. That means many kids likely lost health coverage altogether, according to the Florida Policy Institute. This sharp decline in Medicaid coverage leaves many Floridians vulnerable. According to KFF, Florida ranks fourth in the U.S. for the number of uninsured individuals under 65. While some may find coverage through employer plans or the insurance marketplace, many – especially kids – are at risk of falling through the cracks. Read Next: Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they're on pace — Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Florida's Medicaid Disaster: 1.3 Million Cut From Coverage, One of the Highest Disenrollment Rates in the U.S. originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
