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Health insurers owe millions in rebates to Florida consumers

Several health insurance companies will owe Floridians nearly $149 million in rebates this summer for failing to meet profit caps outlined in the federal health care overhaul. Lynn Hatter reports an analysis done by the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that the nationwide rebate total is $1.3 billion.

Under the Federal Healthcare Law, insurers that provide individual coverage must spend at least 80 percent of the money they collect in premiums on actual patient care. The threshold for large group plans is 85 percent. Those rules are called a medical loss ratio. Companies that failed to meet those are on the hook for reimbursements to consumers.

Last year Florida  unsuccessfully petitioned the federal government for a waiver to the Medical Loss Ratio rules.

The healthcare advocacy group Florida Chain has issued areport on how much the companies may owe: Florida Blue formerly known as Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Florida,  is on the hook for about $45 million; United Healthcare is at $20 million, and Humana is at $12 million.

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Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. 

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