Florida Health Insurance Trends for 2008
October 2, 2008 3:14 pm HealthWith the percentage of uninsured Floridians being 5% higher then the national average, Governor Charlie Crist, along with insurance providers, are collaborating to make positive changes in Florida health insurance trends for 2008.
The Governor has proposed that young adults, even if they are over the age of twenty-one or no longer maintain a student status, be allowed to remain under their parent’s insurance coverage. The Governor has also made a proposal that the income requirements for the Florida KidCare program be reduced and less stringent so that more children would qualify. With 21% of Floridians having no insurance and with Florida’s children without health care coverage being the second highest in the nation, these proposals are definitely positive health insurance trends in Florida.
Insurers are now submitting plans to the state under the Governor’s Cover Florida health insurance program to offer low cost insurance to Floridians. Nine companies have submitted their plans to Tallahassee, which could bring premiums down to $50 per month and would not turn anyone away. The affordable costs and the guaranteed issue will make the health insurance trends in Florida take an upswing by insuring approximately 3.8 million people who otherwise could not afford insurance or do not qualify for insurance under the policy qualifications that insurers now require.