Florida Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Florida?

Florida was rated 36th of the 50 states in the 2009 version of America's Health Rankings, produced by the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• For the second year, the state's two best rankings were for a relatively low prevalence of obesity (25.1%) and for immunization coverage of children ages 19 to 35 months (81.8%).
• In the past year, the prevalence of smoking decreased from 19.3 percent to 17.5 percent of the population, continuing a steady decline from 23.9 percent over the past five years.

The bad news:

• The state faces a high incidence of infectious disease, with 33.6 cases per 100,000, and a high percentage (20.1%) of residents who lack health insurance. The state also continues to deal with one of the worst rates for violent crime.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Immunization coverage – 8th
• Prevalence of obesity – 13th
• Cardiovascular deaths – 13th
• Cancer deaths – 14th
• Poor mental health days – 41st
• High school graduation – 45th (63.6 percent of ninth graders eventually graduate)
• Violent crime – 46th
• Infectious disease – 48th
• Lack of health insurance – 48th
• Geographic disparity – 49th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Florida.

Does Florida have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Florida Comprehensive Health Association (closed to new enrollees since 1991)
(850) 309-1200

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Florida will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Florida's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Florida

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Florida and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Florida.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Florida

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Florida.

USNews health insurance rankings for Florida

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Florida.

Official State Goverment Sites with Florida Health Insurance Information

Florida Department of Health -- Official government Web site for department responsible for health care services for Floridans.

Florida Kid Care -- State program to help children under 19 get health insurance coverage through MediKids, Healthy Kids, Children's Medical Services or Medicaid for Children.

The Florida Department of Financial Services -- is the place for consumers to check out their insurance agent or company or to access the state consumer hotline (1-877-693-5236, is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m) or to file a complaint.

FloridaHealthFinder.gov -- a state-run site designed to connect consumers with health care information and services, including downloadable PDF guides to health and human services and more.

Health Care Advocacy Groups in Florida

Florida CHAIN (Community Health Action Information Network) – a statewide network organization dedicated to improving the health of all Floridians by promoting sustainable access to affordable, effective health care.

Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) – a grassroots organization which empowers citizens to influence public policy by organizing and educating in areas where consumer voices are underrepresented. FCAN is working with Health are for America NOW to create meaningful health care reform."