Scott vetoes GatorCare insurance plan [Ocala Star-Banner, Fla.]
By Anne Geggis, Ocala Star-Banner, Fla. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
GatorCare, envisioned as an expansion of the existing self-insurance plan at
The plan -- projected to cover a total of 70,000 lives, including employees and dependents not in the state health plan -- had been greeted with some apprehension by doctors outside the Shands at UF network and by faculty members concerned about having limited choices for medical care.
GatorCare had been narrowly approved in the waning hours of this year's legislative session, but, in the end, Scott said no.
He cited the plan's limited savings for UF and the potential costs to the state health insurance system. The decision was announced late Friday. The deadline for Scott to act -- or let it quietly become law -- was Saturday.
"I commend the
Opponents of GatorCare's enabling legislation had also included a lobbyist representing the
UF officials were not available to comment on the veto directly, but did provide
"We believe our proposed health and wellness program would have improved the health of our employees while being more cost effective," the email from the UF's Human Resource Services reads. "It is disappointing, but we respect the governor's decision."
The state
The email to the UF community Friday said that the university will keep GatorCare alive to cover 16,000 employees. Included in that number are employees of
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