ICYMI: Health Care Advocates Rally in Defense of Medicaid at the Florida Capitol, Encourage Floridians to Expand Medicaid
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 2026
CONTACT Jossie Barroso Communications Director, Florida Voices for Health
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ICYMI: Health Care Advocates Rally in Defense of Medicaid at the Florida Capitol, Encourage Floridians to Expand Medicaid Tallahassee, Fla. – With the relaunch of the Medicaid expansion ballot initiative, health advocates took to the Capitol to encourage Floridians to sign the petition to put Medicaid expansion on the ballot in 2028, while raising alarm on recent actions by lawmakers to further limit Florida’s Medicaid program that helps low-income families and individuals access health care.
After Congress rushed to make historic cuts to Medicaid last year, Florida lawmakers are considering bills like SB 1758, which adds a work requirement to Florida Medicaid that forces individuals to work themselves into the coverage gap – even in Congress, Florida was exempted from this requirement in H.R. 1 since the state had not expanded Medicaid.
Acadia Jacob, Advocacy Director of Florida Voices for Health said, “If our leaders refuse to act, Floridians will. When we put this decision back in the hands of voters, we can expand coverage, stabilize our healthcare system, and support working families across this state. Healthcare is not a perk. It is not a privilege. It is a public good. And Floridians deserve a system that puts people before profit.”
Acadia Jacob was joined by State Representative Angie Nixon (HD-13, Jacksonville), Melanie Williams with Florida Health Justice Project, Camilo Mejia with Catalyst Miami, and Gena Grant and Richelle Vargas, two Miami residents who have personally been impacted by high health care costs.
In addition to expanding Medicaid, health advocates highlighted legislation that would help Floridians with medical debt, which prevents them from achieving financial stability. HB 1271 by Representative Angie Nixon and SB 1222 by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez would protect patients from the impact of unfair and aggressive debt collection practices, which impact seniors, people with disabilities, uninsured residents, and low-income families .
WCTV: Floridians push Florida Legislature to expand Medicaid By: Donovan McNeal
Dozens of people are urging state lawmakers to expand Medicaid access. This comes as the effort to get Medicaid expansion on the 2028 ballot is relaunching.
Florida Decides Healthcare is the organization sending out statewide digital and physical petitions.
According to the organization, its proposal would bring Medicaid eligibility to people who earn less than 138% of the federal poverty level.
Advocates expressed worry about several bills that lawmakers are considering.
SB1758 would require people to meet certain work and community engagement requirements to maintain Medicaid coverage.
Representative Angie Nixon explained how current legislation will make affordable healthcare more difficult to access.
“Requirements that don’t help people get healthier or more stable,” Nixon said. ”Instead, they push working Floridians, caregivers, people with disabilities, seniors straight into the coverage gap. That’s not reform, it’s actually bad policy with real consequences on our people.”
The bill was heard for the first time in the Senate this week. |
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