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Healthy State tells the stories you need to know to stay well, with a special focus on Florida.We'll bring you the latest fitness trends, new research on preventing and treating disease, and information about how health policy impacts your pocketbook.We report on health using all the tools at our disposal -- video, audio, photos and text -- to bring these stories to life.Healthy State is a project of WUSF Public Media in Tampa and is heard on public radio stations throughout Florida. It also is available online at wusfnews.org.

Senator Proposes Medicaid Expansion

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Though the proposal appears likely to have little chance of passing the Legislature, a South Florida Democrat on Tuesday filed a bill that would expand Medicaid eligibility. 

Sen. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, filed the measure (SB 126) for consideration during the legislative session that will begin in March.

The Affordable Care Act allows states to expand eligibility to adults whose incomes are up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.

But the Republican-dominated Florida House has refused to go along with past proposals to expand coverage. For a single person, 138 percent of the federal poverty level equates to income of $16,753 this year.

For a family of four, it equates to income of $34,638.

Copyright 2018 Health News Florida

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