By MARY SHEDDEN | The Tampa Tribune Published: July 20, 2012 Updated: July 20, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Florida's governor has no plans to expand health care for the state's poor, but Hillsborough County health advocates say they still plan to help struggling uninsured residents.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can decide whether to implement the federal Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid for uninsured residents, many between the ages of 19 and 64.

Gov. Rick Scott, a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act, swiftly announced that Florida will not participate.

However, more than 10,000 county residents living at or below the federal poverty line already participate in a 20-year-old free local health care plan similar to what the expansion would offer.

Advisors to the Hillsborough County Health Care Plan said Thursday they are moving forward with plans to reach even more eligible participants.

"There are people who are clearly eligible for our plan and don't know about it," said Gene Earley, the county director of health care services.

Thursday's meeting provided the first clue about how many local adults are eligible but missing out on the free preventive and acute medical care and prescription drug assistance. Preliminary reviews of census and Medicaid rolls show that more than 40,000 eligible and uninsured residents are being missed.

Who they are, where they live and each person's specific medical needs will be identified within three months as part of an education and recruitment strategic plan, Earley said.

Since voters backed its creation in 1991, a half-cent county sales tax and trust fund now more than $94 million and $47.3 million, respectively have covered the plan's costs. In 2011, expenses totaled $72.5 million.

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County has free health plan for poor