Health insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida invested nearly $5 million in the 2012 election cycle, only to see its top priority -- expanding Medicaid to cover 1-million uninsured Floridians — thwarted by the Legislature, the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reports.
The company -- now using the name Florida Blue -- was the top contributor to state campaigns last year and is again on top in the current donor list. Company officials say the contributions are investments in like-minded candidates and that the company hopes to come back next session and renew its pitch for Medicaid expansion, a key part of the Affordable Health Care Act.
Hospitals, nursing homes and the Internet cafe industry also made large contributions, only to see their causes go down to defeat in this year’s session.