Study: GOP Medicaid Plan Would Cost Florida $32 Billion

Florida would lose enough money to care for 2.4 million children, Families USA says.

The GOP is proposing big changes in the way Medicaid and Medicare work, and a new study says Florida’s poorest seniors and children would bear the brunt of those savings.

The Republican ten-year budget plan aims to reduce federal spending by trillions of dollars. Much of those savings comes from Medicaid, the health insurance program that serves mostly low-income children, people with disabilities and the elderly.

The non-profit group "Families USA" estimates that converting Medicaid into a block grant means Florida would lose $32 billion over ten years.

That amount of money could serve 456,000 seniors and nearly 2.4 million children.

Families USA’s executive director Ron Pollack says the government may save money short-term, but the cost of your private health insurance will rise.

“This has nothing to do with cutting health care costs,” he said. “This is all one huge cost shift.

“Ultimately, it shifts (the costs) on those of us who are insured, because as more people lose their health coverage, we’re going to pay more in premiums.”

Republicans say the changes would give consumers more choices and help bring runaway healthcare costs under control.