Florida health insurance costs have increased dramatically over
the last decade, just as they have in all of the 50 states. However,
the state government and some non-profit organizations in Florida
are doing their part to reduce costs and to provide medical assistance
to the people who need it most.
Florida Health Insurance for Low Income Children
Children are the most vulnerable members of society, especially
when it comes to injuries and illnesses; therefore, they are more
in need of quality of health care than other groups. For this
reason, the state government offers a Florida health insurance
plan named KidCare for children who are not covered by any other
insurance.
The program covers all health costs, including preventative care
and prescriptions, for children under 19 years of age. Parents
typically pay a premium of $10 to $20 per month for the KidCare
program and they must meet the income requirements. For example,
the total income for a family of three could not exceed $32,180.
You can learn more about Florida
KidCare by visiting the program's web site.
Lack of Florida Health Insurance for Young People
Despite having Florida health insurance programs, such as KidCare,
many young people in the state do not receive the medical care
they need. That's why the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF)
developed a program known as The
Student Health Center at Glenridge.
The program provides free school physicals, routine developmental
screenings, and treatment for common illnesses for students in
the Winter Park High School district. It's part of the WPHF's
larger goal "to create the healthiest youth by addressing unmet
health needs and eliminating barriers to learning."
For more information see our page on student
health insurance.
Ways to Save on FL Health Insurance
For those who are members of Florida health insurance plans,
there are ways to cut costs or to get back a portion of the money
spent. According to a consumer guide to health insurance created
by Florida's Department of Financial Services, health insurance
providers are required to offer a discount of up to 10% on your
premiums if you participate in a wellness program. Different plans
have different wellness programs, but these usually include preventative
care and healthy lifestyle initiatives.
Another way to save money according to the guide is by carefully
checking all of your medical bills. If you receive a bill for
a medical service you did not receive or if you are billed twice
for the same medical service, then you could be eligible to receive
20% of the difference between the correct and incorrect charges
as a reward for your discovery (up to $500). You can learn more
about these strategies and other Florida health insurance buying
tips by reading "[Florida]
Health Insurance: A Guide for Consumers".
To learn how Florida's health insurance plans stack up to other
states, read our articles on "CA
Health Insurance," "TX
Health Insurance," and "GA
Health Insurance."
Benefits information is also available for Florida
Nursing Jobs.
