Florida Times-Union: Opinion: Mayor Donna Deegan: Let's vote to keep building a healthier Jacksonville
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Florida Times-Union
One of the top priorities of my administration is building a healthier city and making sure every resident has access to quality health care.
During open enrollment last year, we reduced the number of uninsured citizens by 34% in Duval County through a “Get Covered Jax” public education campaign that increased the enrollees in HealthCare.gov plans. Thousands of families now have coverage that provides peace of mind, preventive care and protection from life-altering medical debt.
A few weeks ago, we also announced that Jacksonville is one of the only cities in the nation to offer telehealth to our uninsured residents through Healthlink JAX. This city-funded service connects people directly to doctors 24/7, providing access to both urgent and non-emergency care right from their homes.
Healthlink JAX isn’t just about medical support. It’s about keeping our residents out of the emergency room and lowering the overall cost of health care for all of us.
As we approach Election Day, the importance of your vote extends far beyond individual candidates. It will directly affect millions of Floridians and their access to affordable health care.
More than 4 million Floridians rely on the Affordable Care Act for coverage of pre-existing conditions, prescription drugs and preventive care. Also known as Obamacare, the plan faced repeated attacks and repeal under Donald Trump, nearly losing by just a single vote in Congress.
This year, with open enrollment starting Nov. 1, we’re working to ensure more Floridians than ever gain this essential coverage.
Meanwhile, Medicare open enrollment has already begun and thanks to recent legislation, millions of Americans are now seeing lower premiums, free vaccines and insulin costs capped at $35 per month. Starting in January, out-of-pocket drug expenses will also be capped at $2,000 which is 75% lower than previously.
These benefits were delivered through the Inflation Reduction Act, a key new law championed by the Biden-Harris administration that empowers Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices — a game-changer for our seniors. These advancements are at risk if we take a step back.
Donald Trump will push to undo both the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, putting millions of Americans’ health care on the chopping block. The drive to repeal these laws isn’t rooted in policy improvements. It’s driven by pharmaceutical companies looking to raise prices and boost their profits at the expense of working families.
If repealed, we risk losing Medicare’s cost-cutting power, returning to an era when people were denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. But our future can look different.
Vice President Kamala Harris, along with leaders across our state, is committed to expanding the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act, pushing to extend Medicare’s prescription savings to everyone and ensuring access to affordable, high-quality care.
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For the first time ever, Harris has also proposed a “Medicare at Home” policy that broadens coverage to include home health care benefits and gives Americans more tools to care for aging loved ones.
The stakes in this election are monumental. A vote for Harris is a vote for affordable health care, financial security and a healthier future for Jacksonville and beyond. On Election Day, let’s keep Jacksonville on the path to better health and brighter futures.
Let's vote for progress, for health care and let’s build on the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Mayor Donna Deegan, Jacksonville
This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union
Read the original op-ed here.