Daily News Updates - Health Insurance News

Crist's Health Insurance Plan Ill-defined, Pt.3

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According to a recent Florida health insurance web posting, “At present, 20.2 percent of Florida's population is living without [health] insurance. That makes Florida the third-highest rated uninsured state in the nation."  How do the 3.7 million Floridians without health insurance break down?  According to the posting, just over 20% are children under the age of 18.  Then, almost 50% of Florida’s uninsured are between the ages of 18 and 34, as reported by legislative analysts.

Critics like Mr. Moran contend that, in order for the ''Cover Florida'' plan to be successful, there will need to be a mandatory inclusion of critical medical needs, such as diabetes.  Much work is ahead in defining the many hazy details, and the value of this initiative will not be determinable until we have some answers.  Not to undermine the main concern, which is to provide adequate affordable health insurance to our disparagingly high numbers of uninsured, Republican Governor Crist explains that this bill “doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime.”  According to The New York times, Gov. Christ repeatedly makes the point that Florida’s budget dropped from $72 billion to only $66 billion last year.  Florida does not stand alone in these woes, many other states are facing the same problems.  Even “Mr. Universe” Schwarzenegger was shut down by California’s Legislature back in 2006.  “The economy is in a different place right now,” Gov. Crist explains, “Our obligation is to find a way without tax dollars to still provide better health care for our people.”