JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Uninsured Jacksonville residents who could potentially be affected by proposed cuts to health care programs are sounding off about the proposed change.
City council members debated the future of health care programs that are at risk of losing city funding or being eliminated. Healthlink JAX, Project Save Lives and Dental Care Access are among the programs facing elimination.
Holley Lewis, a breast cancer survivor who underwent treatment nearly 10 years ago, said programs like the Dental Care Access were vital to her recovery.
“If it’s available, at least you have a hope of getting something taken care of,” Lewis said. “But if it’s not available, you have no hope.”
If these programs were eliminated, that would only add another hurdle for people going through treatment.
“I would want people to be able to have dental care, because if you’re walking around with a bad mouth, what can you do about it?” she said.
These programs have helped uninsured residents access clinics, prescriptions, and preventative care.
“So if they cut it, they’ll no longer have the help they need, therefore bringing forth more stress in the city,” Josh Walker said.
One resident who didn’t want to be identified recalled a time when Telehealth helped her through a difficult circumstance.
“I’ve used that, and during a time when I could not move, it was necessary, so for them to get rid of that program would not work,” she said.
News4JAX reached out to the programs possibly facing full elimination. JaxCareConnected responded, stating that the program has continued to see a demand in referrals since it was launched; therefore, there is a proven need for its existence.
Read the full statement below:
With an estimated 121,000 uninsured individuals in Duval County, JaxCareConnect is a critical resource for our community. Every day, I see hardworking residents who fall through the cracks—people who have lost jobs, care for sick family members, or juggle multiple jobs while managing complex health challenges.
This year, JaxCareConnect has received nearly 4,000 referrals, highlighting the urgent need for safety-net services. Access to a Primary Care Medical Home allows our neighbors to get healthy, return to productive work, and avoid crippling medical debt. Since the program’s launch, referrals have increased 120% each year, and we expect demand to grow further as federal and state cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies take effect.
In partnership with local safety-net clinics and Healthlink Jax, JaxCareConnect has delivered measurable results: 76% of patients stayed out of local emergency rooms for a full year. This improves health outcomes, reduces costs, strengthens the workforce, and helps families avoid crises.
Cuts to these vital programs would likely force many uninsured residents to seek care in emergency departments—care that is better, safer, and more cost-effective when delivered through primary care.
JaxCareConnect spokesperson
The city council is expected to meet again before making a final vote on the programs’ futures.