Medicaid expansion ballot campaign relaunches and is collecting signatures

A political committee seeking to get a Medicaid expansion initiative on the ballot is officially relaunching its campaign Sunday.

Florida Decides Healthcare (FDH) is going to start collecting signatures to aim for a 2028 ballot.

“This campaign has always been about giving Florida voters a choice,” said Mitch Emerson, FDH’s Executive Director in a statement. “Floridians overwhelmingly support Medicaid expansion, and starting February 1, we’re getting back to work in communities across the state to make sure their voices are heard.”

FDH said it is fighting to get Medicaid coverage for nearly 4 million Floridians who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but struggle financially and cannot afford private insurance.

FDH had previously targeted a 2026 ballot but decided to delay the date because of a new state law adding more hurdles for citizen-led ballot initiatives.

The campaign relaunch comes as FDH is challenging HB 1205 in federal court that’s set to go to trial Feb. 9.

“The legislation dramatically increased petition costs, added new bureaucratic hurdles, and slowed the verification process, effectively attempting to shut Floridians out of their constitutional right to direct democracy,” FDH said in a press release.

Republicans advocating for HB 1205 argued they were adding election reform in a system ripe for abuse.

As the 2028 ballot campaign kicks off, FDH said it is working with 100 grassroots groups, including statewide and national health groups, and launching a digital advertising push. 

The timing of the Medicaid expansion push couldn’t be more critical, according to FDH.

“The relaunch comes as the healthcare crisis across the nation and particularly in Florida continues to deepen,” FDH said. “Since cuts to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, thousands of Floridians have been pushed off ACA marketplace coverage, and many who were able to keep a plan are seeing premiums double or even triple, putting coverage out of reach for working families, seniors, veterans, and caregivers.”

FDH said it is encouraging Floridians to visit FloridaDecideshealthcare.org to request a petition to support the cause.