TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida Representative Alan Williams is commending today's Affordable Care Act announcement from President Obama.
Today the President announced from the White House that 7.1 million Americans have enrolled in private health insurance plans under the healthcare exchanges created by the law. The numbers surpassed the Obama Administration's goal of seven million, and Representative Williams praised the milestone.
“Getting people sign up for affordable healthcare was one of the biggest tasks facing our country," said Williams. "I commend community leaders, elected officials and the healthcare marketplace professionals for getting people enrolled and signed up for coverage over the last six months."
Representative Williams also spoke out about the healthcare law as it pertains to Medicaid expansion in Florida, saying the state must act to expand the program in order to protect the uninsured.
“The Affordable Care Act is helping make quality health care a right rather than a privilege for millions of Americans. The enrollment process to exceed seven millions means that expanding Medicaid is critical to ensure that our federal tax can be spent here at home on the hundreds of thousands uninsured Floridians that fear that the next sickness or spill will result in bankruptcy or homelessness," said Williams.
"Floridians still cannot take full advantage because of the Legislature refusal to expand Medicaid. It is time for Florida to end preventing citizens from getting the benefits they deserve and their efforts to take away the benefits and protections citizens now have because of the Affordable Care Act.”
Uninsured Americans who did not sign up for coverage via the exchanges may not be able to get insurance until next year. But the Obama Administration says people who at least started the process before the deadline may be granted an extension.
