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Gatorland & Other Questions

Four years after Russian efforts to sow division in the U.S., Rubio warned: "I’m not sure that we’re any less vulnerable than we once were."
AP
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The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio held a press conference at GatorLand, an Orlando tourist attraction, on Friday to denounce the Affordable Care Act for putting the employer in the position of offering more comprehensive coverage or laying people off. But the Rubio press release didn’t really explain why the premiums will go up. 

The answer: The law requires insurance policies to meet the “minimum essential benefits” set by the government. Historically, many tourist related businesses such as restaurants and hotels have provided skimpy products, if any. The law requires that employer coverage at a minimum cover at least 60 percent of expenses, as actuaries figure it. This Wall Street Journalonline Q&A provides more information.

Gatorland and other health-insurance topics that have come up recently are covered in this Q&A from the Orlando Sentinel.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.