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The debate over the Affordable Care Act continues to raise questions and tempers in
Congress. Florida was the first state to vocally oppose Obamacare, and now state lawmakers continue to throw up roadblocks on the path to healthcare reform.

Two Florida lawmakers are in Washington, DC making an argument on the hotly contested Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

“I’m here to tell you the State of Florida is punishing people to get access to health care,” said Senator Eleanor Sobel.

Some lawmakers, such as Republican state representative Matt Hudson, welcome the debate. “I’m positive the citizens of Florida want representatives to make decisions instead of a ‘trust me,” said Hudson.

This past legislative session, Senate Republicans and Democrats worked to allow Federal dollars to fund healthcare expansion in the state. More than one million Floridians could be eligible, but state house leaders fought the plan.

“Florida made the right decision in blocking state exchange,” Said Hudson

Starting October 1st, federal law will allow Floridians without health insurance to shop for coverage. More than two dozen navigators have been deployed across the state to educate the uninsured about the facts surrounding the Affordable Care Act and help them register for coverage.

“It’s not rocket science. You want to have assistance available at the places where people who are uninsured go to get their healthcare,” said Karen Woodall, an advocate for the Affordable Care Act.

Although Florida continues to fight, lawmakers say they will continue pushing for more coverage.

“We must find a way to put aside Florida’s differences and move forward with the ACA,” said Sobel.

Despite the state ban on using state facilities, several counties are helping navigators because they are obligated to help due to the federal grants they received.

For more information on the Affordable Care Act you can call 1-800-318-2596 or go online to healthcare.gov