Monday, April 21, 2008

Florida Board Backing Governor's Health Plan

The Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board (Advisory Board) met Friday to discuss several bills currently making their way through the legislature, including SB 2534 by Senator Durell Peaden and Co-Sponsored by Senator Don Gaetz. The bill includes Governor Crist’s Cover Florida Health Access Program and was passed by the Senate last week with a vote of 39 – 0.

The Advisory Board endorsed the Senate bill by a super-majority, and urged the House members to pass a similar bill. Board members discussed the differences between the Senate and House bills, specifically noting that the House bill allows unregulated entities to sell products that could potentially destabilize the existing small group market.

The Advisory Board also endorsed another aspect of the Senate bill expanding access to Health Flex Plans, which were established to offer basic, affordable health care services to low-income, uninsured residents.

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