Government
Florida insurance initiative attracts 9 proposals
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 22, 2008
Cover Florida, a program to provide low-cost basic health insurance to the state's uninsured residents, attracted proposals from nine health insurance companies by its Aug. 12 bidding deadline.
The program, part of a health system reform bill adopted in May, will allow companies to offer health plans that are not subject to the state's approximately 50 coverage mandates. Plan enrollees must have been uninsured for at least six months and must not be eligible for government health coverage. Bidding insurers must submit one plan for catastrophic coverage, which includes inpatient hospital stays, hospital emergency care, urgent care, and outpatient surgery and diagnostic services.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and other policymakers expect Cover Florida plan premiums to be about $150 a month. Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration and its Office of Insurance Regulation intend to negotiate with participating plans in September and select health plans by Oct. 1. The law anticipates at least one statewide plan to be approved by the agency.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/09/22/gvbf0922.htm.












