Florida GOP’s Obamacare Alternative Has Signed Up 30 Whole People
The Republican-led government in Florida allocated $900,000 to help the state’s residents find affordable health care through a state-backed website which was somewhat of an alternative to Obamacare. They steadfastly refused to expand Medicaid or work with the federal government to offer subsidized insurance plans.
[su_center_ad]Talking Points Memo reported:
But since the launch of the Republican alternative, Florida Health Choices has signed up 30 people, the Tampa Bay Times reported Friday. By comparison, 984,000 Floridians enrolled in private coverage under Obamacare and 764,000 low-income residents were unable to obtain any kind of coverage through the federal law because the GOP- controlled state legislature refused to expand Medicaid.
The Tampa Bay Times reports:
Another seven plans were canceled either because consumers changed their minds or didn’t pay for services.
These numbers are dwarfed by the nearly 764,000 Floridians who are too poor to afford subsidized plans, yet can’t qualify for Medicaid under Florida’s stringent standards. They are supposed to be the target market for Health Choices.
Naturally, the abysmal sign up numbers of the alternative was blamed on Obamacare. According to TPM, the Republican alternative dates back to 2008, the brainchild of then-Florida House speaker Marco Rubio, now U.S. senator. At that time, Rubio secured $1.8 million in start-up funding,, and the state legislature then authorized $900,000 last year to fully launch the website.
[su_sky_ad]
mea_mark August 30th, 2014 at 8:24 pm
So it cost them $30,000 per person to sign someone up for heathcare that the person would then also have to pay for. GOP party of fiscal responsibility — not in this reality.
tiredoftea August 30th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Looks like they have the same developer as the OCT site.
crc3 August 30th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Floridians have got to vote Rickie Scott and his band of conservative idiots out of office. Problem is there are too many clueless conservative voters in central and northern FL who continue to vote these people into office. Plus the fact that Dem and Independent voters need to actually show up and vote (heavy turnout). I’m not real sure Democrat Charlie Crist will be elected governor because Scott has millions of dollars pouring into his campaign from people like the Koch brothers. That money has to countered with a heavy turnout!
SCOTT August 30th, 2014 at 9:07 pm
The GOP 2016 Platform:
GOP hates OBAMA
GOP hates women.
GOP hates blacks
GOP hates Latinos
GOP hates gays
GOP hates the elderly
GOP hates the poor
GOP hates the sick
GOP hates the disabled
GOP hates scientists
GOP hates education
GOP hates school children.
GOP hates the middle class
GOP hates veterans
GOP hates union members
GOP hates anyone under 50
GOP hates fact checkers
Did we leave anybody out?
Now do You believe the Republican Party and the Tea Party
are RACIST BIGOTS?SO MUCH HATE … SO LITTLE BRAINS!
neworleans878 August 30th, 2014 at 9:13 pm
Non Christians.
Republicans_are_Evil August 30th, 2014 at 10:00 pm
I saw a right winger hating on musicians today.
mea_mark August 31st, 2014 at 8:34 am
Them musicians, they like to liberally spread happiness and good feelings, gotta hate them for that, it’s just awful the way they do that.
Tommy6860 August 30th, 2014 at 9:14 pm
It’s like the American Spring of winger healthcare coverage. People signing up in the tens of tens.
uzza August 30th, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Well at least they still have their free dumb.
tiredoftea August 30th, 2014 at 11:29 pm
At great cost to the rest of us.
jsutton August 31st, 2014 at 1:11 am
They should just stick with government shutdowns and Benghazi hearings.
majii August 31st, 2014 at 1:12 am
Although the FL plan has been a failure thus far, they still plan on throwing more money at it. One lawmaker even said the state is trying to get more companies to offer plans through the site. They must be joking! The major health insurers know the FL plan is a waste of their time, and that it can’t begin to offer the comprehensive healthcare services that Obamacare does. In a way, I’m glad FL is trying this little healthcare experiment because it will show those who oppose the ACA that a state did offer an alternative to the ACA (which is what they’ve been wanting,) and it offered not only junk plans, it is/was a fiasco. The site’s been up since March, is working fine, and only 30 people have signed up in five months.
Denise August 31st, 2014 at 9:51 am
hahahaha! The Republicans are stupid! Just use the AHA, it’s that simple.
jsutton August 31st, 2014 at 10:18 am
AHA instead of HAHA
Rixar13 McGinnis August 31st, 2014 at 3:12 pm
“But since the launch of the Republican alternative, Florida Health Choices has signed up 30 people, the Tampa Bay Times reported Friday.” Republicans and Tea-Bags are Rat Bastards.
Jim Valley August 31st, 2014 at 8:29 pm
This reminds me of all those right-wing events in Washington that are predicted by the wingnuts to draw a million people and end up drawing a half dozen losers with misspelled signs.