Governor Ron DeSantis’s challenging of a ‘continuous eligibility’ rule has booted over 22,000 children off insurance since January
Florida is continuing to “callously” strip healthcare coverage from thousands of children in lower-income households in defiance of a new federal law intended to protect them.
Since 1 January, more than 22,500 children have been disenrolled from Florida KidCare, its version of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (Chip) that is jointly subsidized by states and the US government for families with earnings just above the threshold for Medicaid.
Florida healthcare officials admit at least some were removed for non-payment of premiums, an action prohibited by the “continuous eligibility” clause of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act that took effect at the beginning of this year. The clause secures 12 months of cover if at least one premium payment is made.
Last week, the administration of Republican governor Ron DeSantis challenged the rule in federal court Tampa, arguing it makes Chip an entitlement program that illegally overrides a state law requiring monthly payment of premiums.
But it has chosen not to wait for a ruling before continuing to separate children from coverage. Figures from the Florida Health Justice Project show there were 5,552 removals in the month to 1 April, following 5,097 in March, 5,147 in February, and 6,780 in January.
This man just lives to be cruel. Given any opportunity to do something cruel, he takes it.
Must be some kind of bully complex. He desperately wants to be seen as strong, but only ever comes across as cruel. As much as I love a good chuckle on Florida Mans, I feel for them that lil’ Ronda is still in power.
Definitely a bully. Going all the way back to the “thigh food” story where he would mispronounce the word on a date and then dump the woman if she told him he was mispronouncing it back in college. And I’m sure way back before that. I’d love someone to dig up some of the kids that I’m sure he bullied in grade school.
I bet his 5’2" ass was the one getting bullied.
Maybe he was the short kid who stood next to the bully and laughed at everything he did.