What would happen to Florida if retirees decided not to move here

because of this latest Medicaid move on Jeb Bush's part?

I'll be blunt. Retirees from the North come to Florida to retire and eventually, die here. That's why they call Florida, God's waiting room. They like the climate, but what if Florida's new Medicaid rule from Jeb Bush makes them feel that they can't afford to retire in Florida because they can't afford any portion of private insurance and they don't trust hospitals to give them the best of care without it?

2.1 million people currently have Medicaid in Florida. Let's say that 1 mill are adults who are seniors or are nearing their senior years. What if a good chunk of them start going to another state because the other state offers better medical insurance options?

Not that I would mind it if Florida became a younger, demographic state, but, I'm wondering what would happen to property values in the interim.

but aren't most seniors on mediCARE instead of mediCADE?

However, the papers did say that 2.1 million people in Florida have Medicaid and many of them were seniors.

<snip>

If enacted, the program would make Florida the first state to allow private companies, not the state, to decide the scope and extent of services to the elderly, the disabled and the poor, half of them children.

<snip>

Most seniors past the age of 65 have Medicare not medicaid. However, some may have opted for early retirement (less than 65) and therefore are not eligible for Medicare. If they become seriously ill in that time frame and have no other income, they may become eligible for Medicaid. You really have to be poor before you get any Medicaid assistance in Florida.

Single moms and their children get much of the Medicaid assistance, not the elderly.

sister is on disability and "healthwise" is qualified to get mediCAID. She has many assets and is therefor not "financially" qualified.

Some retirees will be on medicare and some on medicaid based on their financial situation.

Medicaid or Medicare?

not medicaid? That's also not the only reason seniors move to Fl. Many move there because of the favorable tax laws.

If many elderly decided NOT to move to Fl because of Jeb's changes, I suspect it would be those less well off, and that would make the economy of Fl much better. Those with substantial disposable income wouldn't be a drain on the social programs.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Bush is proposing that the state's 2.1 million Medicaid recipients be allotted money to buy their own health care coverage from managed care organizations and other private medical networks. If enacted, the program would make Florida the first state to allow private companies, not the state, to decide the scope and extent of services to the elderly, the disabled and the poor, half of them children.

"It's very radical," said Joan Alker, senior researcher for the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University. "It seems clear that the intent is really based on the notion that the H.M.O.'s and private insurers will have substantial flexibility to make a profit at the expense of the Medicaid beneficiary, who essentially assumes the risk of not getting the services they need. That's unprecedented in Medicaid, really."

Governor Bush says his plan, which must be approved by the Legislature and federal regulators, would deal with "unsustainable" health costs while putting individuals in charge of their own care.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/national/23medicaid.html?pagewanted=2&oref=login

a majority? :shrug:

Oh, I don't know. It pales compared to what is going on in Ohio, with Ken Blackwell's proposed Taxpayer Bill of Rights. That amendment goes through, we're facing massive, radical cuts across the board in state AND city services, everywhere, without exception.

And that's the platform he wants to run for governor on!

-- ArchTeryx

will really hurt the poor and disabled in Florida..these are the folks who life in the trailers and poor areas of the state. Most retired folks come from northern states to live in florida..and come there after selling their homes in the north..and with retirement benefits and pensions and money to buy retirement homes in florida...many very wealthy people are also retired in florida..what this is more likely to accomplish in florida is that it will become even more appealing to the very wealthy.