Nov 2, 2007 7:46 pm US/Eastern
Health Coverage Lacking For Floridians
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ―
A disconcerting new report on health insurance came out Wednesday showing that more and more Floridians are living without health insurance.
According to the report, 1 in 4 Floridians under the age of 65 are not covered. The number has grown significantly in the last eight years to 3.8 million.
Another report released in 2005 also found a disturbingly high amount of people in Miami-Dade County in even worse condition, showing nearly 600,000 residents without health insurance under the age of 65.
State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was quick to point out that although there have been some positive developments, like the growth of private insurance coverage, 25 percent of Floridians without health insurance is still a serious concern.
McCarty and a panel of others plan to discuss the issue Friday, their goal being to offer helpful recommendations for the state to consider.
Ideas such as creating a mandate for college and university students, and expanding Florida's Healthy Kids program, which provides subsidized health insurance for children will be brought to the state's attention. They also plan to pitch a state funded pilot program to subsidize insurance for low-income families, and expanding the use of stripped-down insurance plans.
However it's the proposed plan of parents having the option of keeping children covered up to age 30, and the possible college mandate that has some critics disagreeing.
Harry Spring, regional government relations director for health insurer Humana and a member of the advisory board, isn't sure the plan would work. He said adding more people to the same policy will drive up the overall cost.
''What you are talking about, is people over 25 who can't find employment that offers health insurance,'' Spring told our news partners at the <strong>Miami Herald</a>. ``We have to be straight about it, that it will increase the cost.''
According to the Herald, a spokeswoman for Gov. Charlie Crist would not say whether he would endorse any of the recommendations that come from the advisory board. They also reported that the states Agency for Health Care Administration have put together its own group to study the issue of the uninsured and are looking to make recommendations.
Representatives of the House and the Senate, who deal with insurance issues, were also mum on endorsing the plans.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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