The raincloud of poor enrollment numbers hasnt dampened the spirits of Obamacare supporters across Florida -- some still appear to be in high spirits despite the fact that Floridas enrollment numbers were, by all definitions, much lower than anticipated. Only 3,571 people successfully signed up for health care in the entire state, a number comparably lower than the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimate of 3.5 million who are uninsured in the state of Florida.
Doing the math, the enrollment numbers mean 0.1 percent of Floridians have had success signing up for health care so far.
But supporters of the presidents signature health plan dont seem too worried about the numbers.
In a conference call Thursday with reporters, Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, said the enrollment numbers were actually encouraging, despite the many failures and setbacks of the health care website and dwindling support of the health care legislation from the public.
The call was organized by Protect Your Care, a pro-Affordable Care Act organization. According to their website, the organization vows to create the political and media space for elected officials, industry leaders and community advocates to champion the Affordable Care Act and hold accountable those who seek to take those benefits away by repealing or defunding the law.
Jones, the ranking Democrat on the state Health and Human Services Committee, said she was looking forward to the numbers increasing over the next few months as enrollment picks up. "Even with the website issues that we're having we know that Americans, and those in Florida, are committed to, and are still excited about, the opportunity ... to have coverage."
Later on in the call, Jones admitted she had only been talking to her own constituents who said they were still looking forward to receiving health care.
My constituents are still supportive of the Affordable Care Act, said Jones. They have had to make some hard decisions, and ... they understand that things happen. I dont know too many computer systems that go up and work perfectly, but [the constituents] recognize that they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. They are still excited about that opportunity.
Dr. Mona Mangat, vice chairwoman of Doctors for America, said website glitches shouldnt discourage those that need health care insurance.
We cant let this opportunity pass us by because of website glitches, said Mangat, who noted that people will wait to sign up for health care insurance. I think this number [of sign-ups] is really impressive and important.
Doctors for America is a national movement of more than 16,000 physicians and medical students in all 50 states who, according to the movements website, are working together to improve the health of the nation and to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, high-quality health care. The organization is well-known for its wide support of Obamas health care law.
But while supporters of Obamacare seemed to believe there was hope for the future of health care, others werent so sure. Gov. Rick Scott said President Obamas announcement to extend canceled policies for a year amounted to nothing more than kicking the can down the road for 300,000 Florida families who would lose the insurance plans the president vowed they could keep.
What happens to these families in a year? Scott demanded. Will these families still see their insurance costs go up? President Obamas changes to his own law will likely be the first of many. It is a bad law.
The states largest health insurer, Florida Blue, said Thursday it will extend policies through 2014 that did not meet the standards of the Affordable Care Act. Florida Blues announcement came a few hours after President Barack Obama said Americans could keep their canceled plans for a year.
Florida Blue was expected to drop as many as 300,000 policies over the next 12 months because they did not provide essential benefits required by the health law, and thousands had already received letters about their policies being canceled.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen at Allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter at @AllisonNielsen.