TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits set to expire in two weeks, more than 4.7 million Floridians enrolled in marketplace plans are confronting major coverage and budget decisions.
Since Congress did not extend the COVID-era tax credits, many residents are seeing steep increases in premiums. Carlos Otero of Miami reported a 900% rise in his monthly premiums, forcing him to switch plans to afford coverage.
“I will need to make choices,” Otero said. “I’m afraid I’m going to be disrupting my care, my current care, because now I need to switch providers.”
Lynnette Bidwell, another marketplace enrollee, described the emotional toll: “Sudden cost increases don’t just disrupt coverage. They disrupt lives. It increases my stress, my anxiety, and my fear of slipping back into my health.”
Senator Rick Scott criticized the ACA, calling it a “disaster,” and proposed the More Affordable Care Act, which aims to make the system more transparent, allow cross-state plan shopping, and deliver subsidies directly to consumers.
The deadline to sign up for marketplace insurance is January 15, with coverage beginning in February. Enrollment for coverage starting January 1 has already passed.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Reply