Gov. Crist announces Cover Florida Health Care enrollment numbers
 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 25, 2009 – Governor Charlie Crist announced the initial enrollment in Cover Florida Health Care plans over its first two months of operation. As of Feb. 28, 2009, the health plans reported enrolling 952 Floridians – 82 percent of whom chose catastrophic coverage, and 18 percent chose preventive coverage.

“Cover Florida Health Care is just one of the many steps Florida has taken to improve access to health care for Floridians,” Gov. Crist said. “I call on all organizations interested in helping improve access to health care to help spread the word that affordable health care coverage is available.”

Cover Florida Health Care plans are guaranteed issue, meaning eligible applicants will not be denied coverage, and are available to all Floridians age 19 to 64 who have been without health insurance for at least six months. Certain exceptions apply for the six-month exclusion, including immediate enrollment for those who have lost insurance coverage due to job loss or divorce, or who no longer meet the income requirements for Medicaid or KidCare, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Six health insurance providers have been authorized to offer Cover Florida Health Care plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and United Healthcare are available in all 67 Florida counties, with additional insurers available in Broward, Miami-Dade, Volusia, and Flagler counties.

“While these (enrollment) numbers are a modest beginning, this report couldn’t be more timely,” says AHCA Secretary Holly Benson. “We expect that more uninsured Floridians will become aware that high quality, affordable coverage is within their reach. I encourage all interested citizens to spread the word.”

The same 2008 legislation that authorized Cover Florida Health Care also allows parents to continue carrying children up to age 30 under the family health care policy as long the children are unmarried and have no dependents of their own. Previously, children were covered only until age 25.
 
To view the report and obtain additional information, go to: www.CoverFloridaHealthCare.com.

In addition to the Cover Florida Health Care Plan, the state also offers the following health care programs:

The Florida Discount Drug Card
Launched in December 2007, the Florida Discount Drug Card program (www.FloridaDiscountDrugCard.com) negotiates prices with pharmaceutical companies and secures volume discounts on prescription drugs. Participating pharmacies agree to offer the negotiated price to consumers for each drug. As of March 16, 2009, there were 79,253 participants in the program.

Florida KidCare
The Florida KidCare Program (www.FloridaKidCare.org) provides access to affordable health care for more than 38,000 children. As of March 2009, more than 1.5 million children are enrolled in KidCare, up from more than 1.4 million in June 2008. In addition, the removal of the 10 percent “full pay cap” in KidCare has allowed more than 548,000 uninsured children to access health care coverage.

© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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