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Insurance Basics
Insurance coverage is a key business concern.
Resources Florida Department
of Finance Services Florida Agency for
Health Care Administration |
Health Insurance
Access to affordable healthcare is an ongoing concern for entrepreneurs in Florida. The Florida Chamber of Commerce wants to ease the burden on small businesses by using technology that would lower costs and improve healthcare quality by reducing paperwork and administrative overhead. On the national stage, President Obama campaigned on healthcare reform that would create a Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable healthcare to employees. In 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist developed Cover Florida, a program designed to make affordable health coverage available statewide.
» Cover Florida
Floridians who have gone without insurance for at least six months or have recently lost their employer-sponsored insurance can enroll in plans sponsored by six private insurance companies. Coverage is available even when there are pre-existing conditions. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and United Healthcare have plans available in all 67
counties. Additional options are available in Broward, Miami-Dade, Flagler and Volusia counties.
Two types of plans, preventative and catastrophic, are available. Rates vary according the applicant’s age, gender and chosen benefit options.
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees have access to the new Florida Health Choices Corporation. This clearinghouse for healthcare plans acts as a centralized healthcare marketplace for small businesses.