Georgetown Researcher Says Florida Uninsured Could Approach 2 Million

WFSU | By Jim Ash

Published June 4, 2015 at 4:50 PM EDT

A Georgetown University researcher says failure to expand Medicaid, coupled with a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling, could leave nearly 2 million Floridians without insurance.

Experts are warning the ranks of the uninsured in Florida could skyrocket if the Legislature and the U.S. Supreme Court create the perfect storm.

An Urban Institute study conducted two weeks ago predicts 1.3 million Floridians could lose health insurance if the U.S. Supreme Court sides with opponents of the Affordable Care Act in a pending law suit.

And Georgetown University researcher Joan Alker says that figure could double if the Legislature continues to refuse to expand Medicaid.

“And that same study finds that without Medicaid expansion in Florida, 750,000 more people will be uninsured, so that’s almost a combined 2 million people, it’s 1.822 million people that will be uninsured.”

Florida has the highest participation rate under the Affordable Care Act, according to federal figures. Observers expect the Supreme Court to rule by June 29.