Florida health insurance statistics have far reaching implications, as this state is home to over 17 million people. It is the number one state in the country for relocation. This is due both to the retirement population and those who move for a variety of reasons. When it comes to Florida health insurance statistics, Florida has some alarming numbers. Being familiar with some of these statistics can help you see the importance of health insurance as well as help you find a plan that will work for you.
FL Private Health Insurance Statistics
Florida health insurance is important, but only a small percentage of the population is covered by private health insurance. The latest statistics show that 950,809, of the 17 million that live here, are covered by private health insurance. Private health insurance can be gained through an employer or purchased individually. There are many private health insurance options available for Florida residents.
Private health insurance plans provided by employers do not give you much leeway when it comes to deciding on coverage. Typically, these types of plans are already decided upon before you are hired. However, employer plans are usually high quality and cover a lot of medical needs and specialized needs. So they can be well worth the loss of flexibility for many people.
The nearly 1 million people covered under private health insurance can be assured that their coverage is quality coverage. This is because 94% of large businesses in Florida offer health insurance coverage to their employees. While only 38% of small businesses in Florida offer insurance to their employees, these small businesses are paying employees 10-20% more to allow them the money to purchase their own individual coverage.
FL Uninsured Health Insurance Statistics
The other side of the coin is that nearly 4 million Floridians are without health insurance. That is equal to 20.7% of the population. This is one of the highest uninsured rates in America. Only two states have a higher uninsured rate than Florida. One survey shows that Floridians go without insurance for a variety of reasons. The top five reasons are cost, employment status, waiting for Medicare, the high cost of COBRA, and waiting for approval for public health care coverage.
If you are one of the nearly 4 million people without insurance in Florida, there are options available for you. One of the most popular options is the CoverFlorida program. Cover Florida is a state planned, yet tax free, health insurance program for residents of the state. This is not public health care. It is private health care at a reduced rate for those who do not qualify for public health care yet cannot afford a traditional plan.
Cover Florida Health Insurance
Cover Florida has six major insurance companies that they have contracted with. These companies provide quality insurance at an affordable price to those who qualify. Plans for individuals start at about $80 per month. Family plans are available as well. You can choose which company you want to be covered under, but certain companies are not available in all counties.
Short Term FL Health Insurance
Another option if you do not have health insurance coverage is Short Term Insurance. Short term insurance can provide you with temporary coverage to meet your insurance needs until you have full coverage. Short term insurance approval is typically given online within a few minutes. Coverage begins as soon as you pay your first premium. Short term insurance is ideal for those who are between jobs or are waiting for new insurance coverage to begin.
If short term insurance or Cover Florida can’t meet your insurance needs, you can apply for public health insurance. Over 12 million residents of Florida are covered under either Medicaid or Medicare every year. These are public health insurance plans. Medicaid is for those who have no income or a low income. Eligibility is based on income and family size. Medicare is for those 65 and older.
How To Purchase FL Private Health Insurance
Another way to find insurance is to do what over 1 million Floridians do every year: shop online. Purchasing health insurance on line is convenient and can make you aware of all the options available to you.
With health care premiums on the rise, shopping around on the internet is a good way to make sure you are getting a good deal. The average annual health insurance premium for an individual in Florida is $2,949. For a family the average is $4,282. Knowing these averages can help you better compare rates and quotes that you find.
In fact, you can use the free Fl health insurance comparison tool on this page right now to compare rates and quotes from top insurance companies. Seeing these side by side can help you decide what plan would fit your insurance needs and budget. If you have more questions or need additional information after using the tool, you can contact one of our experienced independent FL health insurance agents. These agents can help you get the information you need. Why not enter your zip code, for free, in the box above and get the quotes you need now?