Florida Health Insurance Info
A Health Care Article Contributed by Victoria R. Elder
Florida Health Insurance Info
Health insurance in Florida can be quite confusing and difficult to decipher. So, if you are among one of the thousands of people who are planning on moving to Florida, or have recently moved there, you may want to review some of the basics about insurance plans.
Basic Florida health insurance facts
Among Florida's population of over 16 million, approximately 84% have some form of health insurance. The most prevalent type of health insurance is employer-based insurance. These group plans account for 48% of the insured in Florida, and are the most reasonable type of plan. Another 6% have individual health insurance policies, which are generally significantly more costly. 12% of the population obtains insurance through MedicAid, generally the disabled and low income families.
MediCare, which is available to senior citizens over 65, provides health insurance to 18% of the population. This figure is a little higher than average, due to Florida's large senior citizen population. Additionally, 16% of the population is currently uninsured.
Florida health insurance regulations
There are several insurance regulations that you should be aware of, primarily pertaining to insurance availability. As all insurance companies are state regulated, insurance provisions can vary considerably from state to state. In Florida, no company is required to write you an insurance policy if they consider you too high a risk. They can refuse to issue a policy or can issue one at a much higher rate, at their discretion.
However, once you obtain a health insurance policy, it cannot be terminated for health reasons. Even if you become ill, your policy cannot be canceled. It can be canceled, though, if you don't pay the premiums on time or if you provide false information. Pre-existing medical conditions are another area where Florida insurance companies have wide latitude.
If you have been previously treated for a disease or medical condition (generally within the past 2 years), this condition can be specifically excluded from coverage in your policy, either temporarily or permanently. Florida is also one of the 30 states that has a high-risk pool for individuals who have been refused coverage by normal insurance companies. This type of pool is generally aimed at individuals who have high-risk medical conditions such as leukemia, HIV/AIDS or juvenile diabetes.
They provide health insurance at higher rates (200 to 250% of average) to people who cannot qualify for any other health insurance. Theoretically, Florida's high-risk pool is available to state residents who meet these criteria. Unfortunately, enrollment in this pool is currently closed and no new applicants are being accepted. This is partially due to the influx of newcomers to Florida. The population is currently growing at over 2% per year.
Florida health insurance cost
Florida's average insurance costs are slightly higher than the national average. In 2002, the national average cost for family coverage through employer based health insurance was $8469. The Florida average was $8748, of which only $2178 was paid by the employee. The balance of $6570 was paid by the employer.
