Florida, hard-hit by Obamacare drop-off, feels the squeeze of rising healthcare costs

ST. CLOUD, Florida (AP) — A chef named Elijah Button endured a painful kitchen accident in June when his knife cut his middle finger severely. He had recently given up his Affordable Care Act health insurance plan due to an unaffordable monthly premium increase. Unable to afford emergency treatment, he treated his injury at home, but the incident left him feeling like he was living in a "house of cards."

Florida, with its significant population of gig workers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, has become a prominent case study of the consequences of rising healthcare costs and the loss of federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans. About 440,000 Floridians dropped their ACA plans in 2021, more than any other state, while thousands more who retained coverage are grappling with the financial burden of soaring medical expenses and policies with increasing premiums.

Despite the state's Republican-led legislature and redistricting favoring the party, healthcare affordability remains a crucial issue in Florida's political landscape.