Gov. Rick Scott made national headlines and disappointed his tea party base last year when he expressed support for using federal Medicaid expansion dollars to help uninsured Floridians get coverage. He supported the plan created by Senate Republicans to use the $51 billion in federal funding, but it was blocked by House Republicans at the end of the 2013 session. Read more »

Another $4.4 million is heading to Florida health centers to help them sign up residents for health insurance. Read more »

To help expand the capacity of community health centers serving our communities, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced that 46 centers in Florida will receive $4.4 million in federal grant awards. “These outreach grants will create employment in Tampa Bay and assist our community health centers in their effort to enroll uninsured Americans in the new health insurance coverage options made… Read more »

Because of the Affordable Care Act, for the first time starting January 2014, insurance companies will be prohibited from denying health coverage for the up to 129 million Americans – including up to 7.8 million adults and children in Florida – with pre-existing conditions, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Florida has the fourth highest number of individuals… Read more »

A report today shows that states fully participating in the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act have significantly boosted access to medical care for their citizens. The report states that applications increased by 15 percent in October compared to the average monthly enrollment in July – September. “While other states have put their tax dollars to work to provide… Read more »

Florida families and individuals will benefit from a broad range of new health insurance options and lower than expected rates in the new Health Insurance Marketplace that will open next week. Rates in Florida are lower than expected and new tax credits for middle class families will help make health insurance even more affordable, according to today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "This is great news for our neighbors across the Tampa Bay area and all Floridians. Low rates and a wide range of choices will be a godsend to families. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor sent the attached letter to Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Surgeon General John Armstrong regarding yesterday’s decision by the Florida Department of Health to block navigators from local health department offices. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) held an Affordable Care Act question-and-answer session today for small businesses at the University of South Florida Small Business Development Center. Attendees learned from experts about the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), a marketplace where employers will be able to choose from a range of affordable plans to offer their employees. With the ability to join a large pool through SHOP, small businesses will now have access to the same types of quality, affordable coverage that only large firms have today. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) released the statement below following U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius’ announcement in Tampa today of a major grant to the University of South Florida (USF) as part of the $67 million awarded across the country to “navigators,” who will help consumers and small businesses shop for and enroll in the health insurance marketplace beginning Oct. 1: Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D- Tampa/St. Petersburg) released new statistics demonstrating sustained progress of the Affordable Care Act for Tampa Bay area families. Read more »