DeSantis Dodges Health Insurance Question: What's His Plan?

Photo byPhoto 145356568 © Zhukovsky

A real turning point in the Republican presidential debate occurred when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was finally asked about why so many people live in his state without health insurance.

He did not have much of an answer, which is shocking and not surprising in different ways.

It's unexpected considering how much coverage Florida's health insurance has received in the state's and national news.

According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau figures, more than 11% of the state's citizens lack health insurance. Georgia, Texas, and Wyoming are the only other states with more significant percentages of uninsured people.

And it is not very mysterious why.

The Sunshine State is among the ten holdout states that have resisted participating in the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion, which would have made it available to everyone living at or below the poverty line.

Instead, Florida continues to adhere to stricter, older guidelines that largely apply to youngsters and pregnant women.

Adults with minor children can also qualify if their income is below 25% of the poverty line.

Advocates have long pleaded with Florida's Republican governor to reverse his opposition to Medicaid expansion, which stems from his dislike of the "welfare state" in general and Obamacare in particular.

DeSantis has declined, just like his predecessor and other state GOP leaders.

DeSantis, though, launched into a rambling argument about how inflation was driving up the cost of food and gas before finally providing a boilerplate line about defeating "Big Pharma, big insurance and big government" to have "more power for the people and the doctor-patient relationship" on the debate stage instead of outlining his position on Medicaid expansion or healthcare policy.

But again, DeSantis kept mum about Medicaid or insurance, instead boasting Florida as a "dynamic state."

What's your take on Governor DeSantis' response to the healthcare crisis in Florida?

Leave your comment below and share this on social media.