Amid widespread health care reform in Florida and a heated
national health care debate, both Republicans and Democrats worry about
potential changes to the Florida health care system. Florida Democrats,
who are in favor of health care reform efforts, worry that an
up-and-coming GOP Senate candidate may pose a serious threat to the
quality of the Florida health care system.
Republican Marco Rubio
has, until now, not appeared to pose a serious threat to health care
reform in Florida. However, as the Republican candidate continues to
build support for his nomination to the GOP Senate seat, Democrats are
growing increasingly concerned about what Rubio might do if elected to
office. Most importantly, Democrats worry that Rubio will repeal Florida
health reforms if he is elected.
That’s no wonder; Rubio has said
himself that he plans to repeal Florida health insurance reforms if he
wins the Senate seat. That repeal, he said, could mean decreasing health
costs for Florida residents and improving health care accessibility for
all. The Democrats, however, don’t see it the same way, and are calling
Rubio “nothing more than a typical politician who is in the hands of
the health industry,” said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party
spokesman.
According to Jotkoff and a press release issued by the
Florida Democratic party, if Rubio does indeed have an alliance with
Florida insurance companies, as the Democrats suspect, Florida residents
will have to pay more for their healthcare than ever before. Moreover,
such an alliance would increase the federal budget, reduce health care
access, and create financial difficulties for many Florida residents
participating in the Medicare program.
“By pledging today to
repeal health insurance reforms Marco Rubio not only promised to add to
the federal budget deficit and deny Florida’s families access to health
care, but Rubio’s repeal would also force senior citizens to continue
paying for the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs out of their
pockets by re-opening the Medicare Part D donut hole,” said the Florida
Democratic Party in a press release issued earlier this month. Rubio’s
repeal also means that he wants allow insurance companies to deny
coverage when you get sick because of a pre-existing condition.”
As health care costs continue to increase, including
the costs of health insurance plans, one of the best things that Florida
residents can do to help protect their health and their wallets is to
enroll in a health insurance plan now to lock in the monthly premium
rates before they increase.
There are many different types of
health plans and health providers. In order to find the right health
plan for their specific needs, lifestyles, and budgets, Florida
residents should consult with a qualified health insurance plan broker
who can help compare health insurance plan offerings and rates to find
the best one for each individual applicant. For example, Florida
residents may be able to receive health insurance plans through their
employers in addition to health insurance plans that they qualify for on
their own. Even if a Florida resident is able to get a health insurance
plan through an employer, he or she may be able to get a better rate on
a plan he or she gets independently of the employer.
One of the
most popular health options is a Health Savings Account plan, which
allows participants to save money into a high-interest yielding savings
account that they can earmark to pay for health insurance expenses. With
a Health Savings Account, participants will also receive a tax
deduction for the funds they deposit into their Health Savings Account
and use on qualifying medical expenses. Also, Health Savings Account
options come with high deductible health plans that have low monthly
premiums, significantly reducing participants’ monthly health care
expenses.
Whenever enrolling in a new health ins. or changing
health ins., it is important for individuals to speak with an
experienced health insurance advisor to ensure that they have all the
information they need to make a wise financial an healthcare decision
for their specific needs, budgets, and lifestyles.