Floridians Favor Constitutional Amendment to Expand Coverage
A new public opinion poll released by Florida Decides Healthcare (FHD) indicates significant support among Floridians for a constitutional amendment to expand Medicaid. The proposed amendment aims to extend health coverage to over one million state residents and seeks to bring federal taxpayer dollars back to Florida.
The poll, conducted by Global Strategy Group, surveyed 800 likely 2026 voters in Florida between June 11 and June 17, 2025. It found that 67% of respondents back the amendment, with 25% opposed and 8% undecided.
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This initial support level exceeds the 60% threshold required for a constitutional amendment to pass in Florida. When undecided voters’ preferences were factored in based on their baseline support for Medicaid expansion, the “yes” vote increased to 71%. The turnout model for the poll was based on 2022 and 2024 election results.
According to the survey, support for the amendment grows to 74% after voters receive more information about its potential impact and the implications of Florida not expanding Medicaid. Support remained above the 60% threshold even after voters heard arguments against the expansion.
Mitch Emerson, Executive Director at Florida Decides Healthcare, stated, “Floridians are ready for change. This polling confirms what we’ve known all along — voters want Medicaid expansion. Florida is at a breaking point. Without Medicaid expansion, we are heading straight into a healthcare catastrophe.” He emphasized that the proposed expansion would benefit various groups, including working parents, veterans, and seniors.
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The release of the poll results comes as Florida could see impacts from recent federal healthcare changes, including the passage of a federal reconciliation bill and the upcoming expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credit enhancements. Starting January 1, an estimated 3.7 million Floridians could face a loss of health coverage as ACA subsidies are rolled back, potentially leading to what is described as a “coverage gap.”
Florida currently ranks 47th nationally in healthcare affordability and leads the country in ACA Marketplace enrollment. Experts suggest that without Medicaid expansion, the number of uninsured Floridians could double, potentially straining the state’s healthcare infrastructure and increasing costs. Predictions include potential job losses for 50,000 healthcare workers and up to 7,000 avoidable annual deaths.
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Proponents of the amendment argue that Florida is currently sending billions of taxpayer dollars to other states that have expanded Medicaid. They estimate that passing the amendment would bring back approximately $10.5 billion in federal funds to provide coverage for over 3.7 million residents and help stabilize the state’s healthcare system.
The proposed amendment by Florida Decides Healthcare would expand Medicaid eligibility to adults aged 18 to 64 whose incomes are at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. This group includes individuals who earn too much for traditional Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance. The campaign has reported collecting over 150,000 signature petitions as part of its effort to place Medicaid expansion on the 2026 ballot. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.5%.
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