Ron DeSantis has labeled Donald Trump as "juvenile," "phony," and "petty". He has criticized Trump's behavior and language as "not the way a president should be conducting himself". Despite Trump's constant mocking of DeSantis, the Governor has kissed the ring and bent before the Great Moron and is by all criteria one of Trump's most reliable men such that it is rumored that Trump is considering replacing the other moron Pete Hegseth with DeSantis at the Defense Department.
DeSantis has embarked on executing Trump's orders across Florida. In the case of health insurance, he has pushed nearly half a million of struggling Floridians off the government-supported ACA (Affordable Care Act, a signature achievement of President Obama), not because of any problem with the law, but simply because it was signed by Obama. The cruelty of such a move is beyond the pale, and demonstrates DeSantis's blind subservience and obedience to Trump.
When you force half a million Americans off the health insurance scam, insurers make less money because of a significant drop in premium payments. To make up for that lost "opportunity cost", insurers raise their premiums on their remaining captive Americans, which in turn pushes more people off the network and the cycle goes on: More and more expensive health insurance for fewer and fewer people.
This is what AI says about DeSantis's role in undermining Florida's healthcare system:
Florida’s declining health insurance coverage is largely attributed to Ron DeSantis’s refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a decision that has left the state with one of the highest uninsured rates in the U.S. (15.1% for residents under 65). As a former congressman, he voted six times to repeal the ACA and voted for an $880 billion cut to Medicaid, while as governor, he has blocked expansion that would have covered up to 726,000 Floridians, disproportionately affecting people of color.
Recent administrative actions have further reduced coverage. Records show DeSantis pushed for a Medicaid purge involving work reporting requirements that could have stripped nearly 100,000 Floridians of insurance, though a narrower Senate version was not enacted in the House. Additionally, his administration has defied federal rules requiring continuous eligibility for Florida KidCare, leading to the disenrollment of tens of thousands of children for missed premium payments; a 2026 grand jury also found that $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was misappropriated for political activities. DeSantis has also publicly downplayed the need for comprehensive coverage for those under 50, advocating instead for "catastrophic" plans, while the state has rejected $11 billion in recent federal funding for health and social programs.
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Florida's health insurance crunch pushes 440,000 off ACA plans
Wyatt Fischer
Thu, September 10, 2026
Photo Credit: iStock
After enhanced ACA subsidies expired, Florida saw the nation's sharpest drop in marketplace enrollment, with about 440,000 Floridians leaving those plans, many of whom are now uninsured.
Florida's affordability squeeze is hitting Floridians in more places than the housing market. For many residents, one of the newest pain points is health insurance, which has become both harder to keep and more expensive to use.
That burden is especially heavy for families already stretching to pay for rent, groceries, and electricity.
Here's what to know
After enhanced ACA subsidies expired, Florida recorded the nation's sharpest drop in marketplace enrollment, according to The Boca Raton Tribune. About 440,000 Floridians left those plans, and experts believe many of them are now uninsured.
Nearly 4 million people in the state still receive ACA coverage, but keeping it has become significantly more expensive. KFF data showed average premiums have climbed 58%, and many consumers are moving into thinner plans with higher deductibles, which can mean much larger out-of-pocket bills later.
Florida State University applied economics and urban policy professor Sam Staley, who also directs the DeVoe L. Moore Center, said the affordability problem extends far past housing alone.
"Housing affordability is just the tip of the iceberg, especially for those in the lower ends of the income bracket and for families struggling near minimum wage," he said.
Those facing the biggest hit from rising insurance costs are often people least likely to get coverage through work, including part-time employees, gig workers, self-employed people, and workers at small businesses.
Home energy is another rising cost burden in Florida, and going solar is one of the best ways to save money. Homeowners can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
The affordability crunch goes beyond health coverage. Federal SNAP cuts have pushed more than 500,000 Floridians off food assistance, while roughly 2.3 million people in the state still receive benefits.
Food prices have offered little relief. Average grocery spending in Florida is about $6,362 a year, or roughly $122.34 a week, making it harder for families to manage daily living expenses.
Utility costs are adding still more pressure. A survey showed that one in five low-income Florida households regularly shut off air conditioning at night to save money despite the summer heat. Families earning $50,000 or less average 11 nights each month without A/C.
Holly Bullard, chief strategy and development officer at the Florida Policy Institute, summed up the trend this way: "Florida's economy is growing more and more unequal."
Some of the most impactful solutions would need to happen at the policy level, including stronger support for health coverage, protections for food assistance, and efforts to make everyday essentials more affordable. Food banks are also filling some gaps by helping people with applications and increasing food supplies through partnerships with farmers and stores.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save on energy costs, and go off-grid. It can also help keep essential appliances running when extreme weather or grid strain knocks out power. Readers can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
EnergySage's free services can also help households make smarter long-term decisions about energy costs. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state; together, these resources can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, captured the pressure many families are feeling clearly: "Floridians cannot afford Florida right now."
Staley offered an even blunter assessment: "Even with two earners, there's a real problem."
Florida's health coverage squeeze is part of a wider insurance affordability problem affecting households nationwide. Here are a few examples of how rising premiums and climate-related risks are making basic coverage harder to afford.
• Across the U.S., rising insurance rates are forcing more households to rethink basic budgets.
• In Oklahoma, homeowners insurance costs have climbed so high that routine coverage strains family finances.
• In Oregon, soaring home insurance costs are rattling homeowners who once considered coverage affordable.
Insurance costs can pile up on top of the same budget pressures already squeezing Floridians. The loss of affordable health coverage can throw a household even further off balance.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades.
Florida's health insurance crunch pushes 440,000 off ACA plans
Wyatt Fischer
Thu, September 10, 2026
Photo Credit: iStock
After enhanced ACA subsidies expired, Florida saw the nation's sharpest drop in marketplace enrollment, with about 440,000 Floridians leaving those plans, many of whom are now uninsured.
Florida's affordability squeeze is hitting Floridians in more places than the housing market. For many residents, one of the newest pain points is health insurance, which has become both harder to keep and more expensive to use.
That burden is especially heavy for families already stretching to pay for rent, groceries, and electricity.
Here's what to know
After enhanced ACA subsidies expired, Florida recorded the nation's sharpest drop in marketplace enrollment, according to The Boca Raton Tribune. About 440,000 Floridians left those plans, and experts believe many of them are now uninsured.
Nearly 4 million people in the state still receive ACA coverage, but keeping it has become significantly more expensive. KFF data showed average premiums have climbed 58%, and many consumers are moving into thinner plans with higher deductibles, which can mean much larger out-of-pocket bills later.
Florida State University applied economics and urban policy professor Sam Staley, who also directs the DeVoe L. Moore Center, said the affordability problem extends far past housing alone.
"Housing affordability is just the tip of the iceberg, especially for those in the lower ends of the income bracket and for families struggling near minimum wage," he said.
Those facing the biggest hit from rising insurance costs are often people least likely to get coverage through work, including part-time employees, gig workers, self-employed people, and workers at small businesses.
Home energy is another rising cost burden in Florida, and going solar is one of the best ways to save money. Homeowners can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
The affordability crunch goes beyond health coverage. Federal SNAP cuts have pushed more than 500,000 Floridians off food assistance, while roughly 2.3 million people in the state still receive benefits.
Food prices have offered little relief. Average grocery spending in Florida is about $6,362 a year, or roughly $122.34 a week, making it harder for families to manage daily living expenses.
Utility costs are adding still more pressure. A survey showed that one in five low-income Florida households regularly shut off air conditioning at night to save money despite the summer heat. Families earning $50,000 or less average 11 nights each month without A/C.
Holly Bullard, chief strategy and development officer at the Florida Policy Institute, summed up the trend this way: "Florida's economy is growing more and more unequal."
Some of the most impactful solutions would need to happen at the policy level, including stronger support for health coverage, protections for food assistance, and efforts to make everyday essentials more affordable. Food banks are also filling some gaps by helping people with applications and increasing food supplies through partnerships with farmers and stores.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save on energy costs, and go off-grid. It can also help keep essential appliances running when extreme weather or grid strain knocks out power. Readers can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
EnergySage's free services can also help households make smarter long-term decisions about energy costs. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state; together, these resources can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, captured the pressure many families are feeling clearly: "Floridians cannot afford Florida right now."
Staley offered an even blunter assessment: "Even with two earners, there's a real problem."
Florida's health coverage squeeze is part of a wider insurance affordability problem affecting households nationwide. Here are a few examples of how rising premiums and climate-related risks are making basic coverage harder to afford.
• Across the U.S., rising insurance rates are forcing more households to rethink basic budgets.
• In Oklahoma, homeowners insurance costs have climbed so high that routine coverage strains family finances.
• In Oregon, soaring home insurance costs are rattling homeowners who once considered coverage affordable.
Insurance costs can pile up on top of the same budget pressures already squeezing Floridians. The loss of affordable health coverage can throw a household even further off balance.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades.
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