FLORIDA (CBSMiami) – Most Floridians support expanding Medicaid eligibility through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a poll funded by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).
The ACA gives states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility to 133 percent of federal poverty levels, up from 100 percent currently, starting in 2014, reports the South Florida Business Journal. For the first few years, the federal government would cover 100 percent of the costs, and then the federal share would decline to 90 percent.
ACS CAN said the Medicaid expansion would provide coverage for about 870,000 uninsured Florida residents.
Florida Governor Rick Scott has previously stated his opposition to expanding Medicaid, but he started re-examining the issue after the re-election of President Barack Obama. The Florida Legislature is also considering Medicaid expansion.
The poll conducted by Lake Research Partners and GS Strategy Group found that 63 percent of Floridians favor accepting more dollars to cover more Medicaid recipients while 25 percent opposed it.
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The South Florida Business Journal contributed to this report.)
