Washington’s threatened healthcare plan would leave South Florida families at risk | Opinion

You don’t need to be a physician to understand a simple truth about healthcare: people cannot be healthy if they can’t afford to see a doctor.

Unfortunately, the programs and tax credits that provide many Miami-Dade residents with health insurance are currently under threat from Washington politicians.

Marketplace insurance tax credits, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide essential coverage for Floridians who otherwise couldn’t afford healthcare—especially in Miami-Dade. These programs serve the elderly (including nearly 60% of Miami-Dade’s senior population), children, individuals with chronic conditions like cancer, people with disabilities and working families whose jobs don’t offer healthcare benefits.

Marketplace coverage, also known as Obamacare, insures close to a million people in Miami-Dade — more than any other county in the nation. Combined, Medicaid and Marketplace coverage protect the majority of Miami-Dade residents under age 65. Undermining these programs would come at a dramatic cost to our community’s health and well-being.

I am part of a coalition of Florida health advocates sounding the alarm over a federal budget proposal that could make unprecedented cuts to Medicaid.

A budget blueprint approved by the House this week is expected to slash billions in federal Medicaid spending as part of a plan to renew and fund new and existing tax cuts.

Republicans in Congress claim there won’t be direct cuts to the millions of low-income adults and children covered by Medicaid, asserting they intend to target waste, fraud and abuse, according to the Associated Press. However, concerns continue to mount among lawmakers and health advocates who argue that reducing federal Medicaid funding would force Florida and other states to either raise taxes or consider drastic measures, such as limiting enrollment in the program that provides healthcare to 80 million low-income adults and children across the U.S.

The individuals and families I treat receive regular checkups, chronic disease management and prescription medications thanks to Medicaid, CHIP and the tax credits that make Marketplace insurance affordable. These programs are crucial to the financial stability and well-being of South Florida families.

They help people like Mrs. RC, a 62-year-old woman I saw in the clinic this week. She has hypertension, but thanks to regular doctor visits, a healthy lifestyle and affordable medications, her blood pressure has been well-controlled for years. As a result, she has avoided serious complications such as strokes or heart attacks, which I often see in uninsured patients admitted to the hospital.

Mrs. RC’s case is a clear example of how health insurance keeps people healthy and prevents costly medical crises.

Medicaid, CHIP and insurance tax credits also support Florida’s economy. They ensure children can see a doctor, provide treatment for chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer, help pay for nursing home care and support individuals with disabilities. These programs enable seniors and people with disabilities to stay in their homes, preventing unnecessary institutionalization.

Taking away this healthcare doesn’t just harm those who lose coverage—it has financial consequences for all Floridians.

Losing insurance doesn’t mean people stop needing medical care. It simply means an unexpected health crisis could spiral into medical debt that drains savings, forces people to borrow from friends and family, leads to foreclosure or eviction, or requires impossible choices between rent, groceries and prescription medications.

These cuts don’t save money; they shift costs onto families and communities, making it harder for people to stay afloat.

None of my patients should have to choose between their health and their financial stability. We all agree that our healthcare system needs improvement. We all want lower costs and better coverage. But gutting Medicaid and eliminating tax credits that make insurance affordable is not the solution.

Stripping health insurance from working families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in South Florida is both cruel and reckless. We must not allow it.

Any budget or tax deal coming out of Washington, especially one supported by our congressional representatives, must put South Florida’s families first—not strip away their healthcare.

Olveen Carrasquillo is a practicing physician in Miami-Dade.

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