Florida health insurance

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.