Florida Health Insurance


Family & Individual Health Insurance
Short-term Health Insurance
Group /Small Business
Student Health Insurance
Medicare Supplement
Life 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?

Thumbs up on offering a risk pool.; 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.


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

USNews logo 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 State Seal.;

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."

Florida Health Insurance Companies

Health insurance companies in Florida.
Get health plan pricing for these companies.

Aetna
Celtic Ins. Co.
Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company
Golden Rule
Humana
Vista Healthplan of South Florida

Call Congress: Support Insurance Reform

Contact your federal officials. All Americans need your help to demand that Congress continue to support health care legislation that will make health insurance affordable and accessible to all Americans.
Senator George S. LeMieux
PHONE: toll-free 1-866-630-7106 (DC office)
FAX: 202-228-5171 (DC office)
Local offices
Contact by E-mail
Senator Bill Nelson
PHONE: 202-224-5274 (DC office)
FAX: 202-228-2183 (DC office)
Local offices
Contact by E-mail

House Members
(follow link, then look for "Contact") u.s. house seal Need Help?
ZIP search

For state-level reform, contact:

Florida Governor Charlie Crist
PL-05 The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
PHONE: (850) 488-7146
FAX: (850) 487-0801
Contact by e-mail


Contact your Florida State Senator
Contact your Florida State Representative

Read more on Health Care Reform!


Health Insurance 101: learning center

Individual health insurance an overview for those without employer-sponsored plans

Health insurance scams: tips for defending yourself from insurance fraud

Private health insurance: background on the "American way" of paying for health care

Self-employed health insurance: how to get – and keep – your health coverage

Additional health care resources

Find licensed physicians near you. Each state is home to organizations that can help you find and research physicians, offering online information about a physician's license, schooling, practice information and more.

Florida Licensee Search
Florida Department of Health

Other Florida Public Resources
Florida Medical Association