By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-947940.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Providers are no longer offering low-cost health insurance policies under Cover Florida; and Florida Health Choices, a small business health insurance exchange, is still in the development phase. Lynn Hatter reports a House committee received updates on both programs Tuesday.
Lawmakers like Representative John Wood think Florida Health Choices could become the go-to place for consumers looking for health insurance. While the federal healthcare law is still being contested in court, many of its provisions have to be in place by 2014. One of those is the creation of a health insurance exchange where people can competitively shop for rates.
"We are in a policy decision mode of do we form our own exchange, do we fight for reform of the reform, do we let the feds come in there are a lot of different issues this legislature has to decide on. And it would be helpful to know if we have a marketplace solution brewing, is your organization prepared to step forward into that role."
The group is working with the Agency for Health Care administration and Office of Insurance Regulation, and has set a goal to have the website up and running, with providers, by 2012.