TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Florida economists are now projecting that the total cost to Florida taxpayers for the Affordable Care Act will be approximately $5.2 billion over the next decade.
The number is far lower than one cited earlier this year by Florida Governor Rick Scott who said the health care legislation would cost nearly $26 billion over a 10-year span.
The total amount economists projected included the cost of expanding Medicaid to nearly 1 million more Floridians. Governor Scott supports the Medicaid expansion, but Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford is sharply opposed to the bill.
Weatherford admitted this week that his opposition to the bill remains, despite his family having received similar benefits when he was younger.
State economists said Florida would draw down approximately $51 billion in federal aid if the state expanded Medicaid.
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