As stroke risks persist among men, one Florida survivor highlights the importance of coverage and care
“One moment you’re fine. The next, everything changes.” For Father Jose Rodriguez, those words aren’t a warning, they’re his own experience. The Florida resident and Episcopal priest has survived not one, but two strokes, and he wants other men to be prepared.
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability among men in Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even after recovery, many survivors remain at risk, with roughly 25% experiencing a second stroke.1
After a first stroke in 2021, Rodriguez spent years managing complications from a previous illness before he suffered his second stroke in 2025.
Men and health: A statewide challenge
Rodriguez’s story reflects a pattern seen across the country. According to the CDC, men are nearly 12% more likely than women to go without seeing a doctor for an entire year. And in some cases, men don’t have insurance at all.2
In Florida, that gap is particularly pronounced. The state’s uninsured rate has climbed to nearly 11% and could worsen.3 Early numbers show that an additional 260,000 Floridians dropped their Individual Marketplace coverage this year after the enhanced premium tax credits expired — the largest drop in the country.4 For working-age men, specifically those who are self-employed, in transition, or employed without benefits, coverage gaps are common.
Rodriguez understands that reality firsthand. After his first stroke, he navigated years of complications while managing financial pressures that come with a serious illness, including job loss and significant strain on his family. Even then, he held onto his coverage.
“I’ve been at the bottom,” he said. "And I can’t imagine trying to come back from that without insurance. It’s not just a bill. It’s your ability to recover, to function, to keep going.”
What coverage made possible
When Rodriguez suffered his second stroke in April 2025, the full weight of that preparation became clear. His recovery required a broad network of specialists, including behavioral health providers, endocrinologists, and ongoing monitoring, along with medications that, at times, cost thousands of dollars each month.
“It was overwhelming,” he said. “But I wasn’t navigating it alone.”
Because he maintained his coverage through Florida Blue, his out-of-pocket costs stayed manageable and his care uninterrupted. He didn’t have to choose between providers or delay treatment while sorting out finances.
“When you’re dealing with something this serious, you don’t have time to figure everything out on your own,” he said. “You need support. You need things to work.”
For Rodriguez, keeping coverage wasn’t always easy. As his budget shifted over the years, he moved between health plan options but never let his insurance lapse. It’s a decision he credits with making his recovery possible.
A message for Florida’s men
Today, Rodriguez continues managing his health while supporting his family, including a child with special health care needs. His experience has deepened both his personal convictions and the message he carries in his roles as both a faith leader and community health worker across Central Florida.
“We all know someone who’s been through a medical crisis,” he said. “You’re not as far from it as you may think. Taking care of your health isn’t just about checkups. It’s about being prepared — for yourself, and for the people who count on you.”
As a community health worker, he has seen what happens when people wait; when a symptom goes unchecked, when a diagnosis comes too late, when a medical crisis hits someone who has no insurance coverage and no safety net.
“Insurance is assurance,” he said. “It’s knowing that when life happens — and it will — you’re not facing it alone.”
