Scott holds that, until the Supreme Court decides the case, the Affordable Care Act is not yet the law of the land. In an interview with member station WUSF in Tampa, Scott says until then, he has no interest in setting up a health care exchange.
“All it’s going to do is raise the cost of health care in this country,” he said. “It’s not good for you. It’s not good for you as a patient. It’s not good for you as a taxpayer. It’s not good for you as a businessperson. That raises your cost and makes you lose jobs.”
Others dispute that, saying the health care overhaul will bring down costs for consumers and business.
Louisa McQueeney manages a small gift food shipping company in Lantana that specializes in Florida citrus. Inside her shop, there’s juice, marmalade, candy and lots of fresh fruit. She says she strongly disagrees with Scott and others who oppose the Affordable Care Act.
“Well, something has to happen,” she says. “I mean, people do get sick.”
McQueeney’s company, Palm Beach Groves, pays for health insurance for four full-time employees. Because it’s such a small business, McQueeney says, Palm Beach Groves pays some of the highest premiums — nearly $2,000 a month, for example, for one employee who is in her early 60s.
“I was just hoping with the new legislation that the cost would come down,” McQueeney says, “which actually it has this year. This year, we’re getting a credit of $7,424, I believe it is.”
That’s a health care tax credit for small businesses put in place under the law. Eventually, if the law isn’t struck down by the Supreme Court, McQueeney will be able to shop for competitively priced health insurance policies through Florida’s exchange.
Except that it’s looking increasingly likely that, if the law is upheld, Florida won’t have one in place.
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via Sunshine State Bets On Sunset For Health Care Act : Shots – Health Blog : NPR.