Phil Ammann
Floridians looking for health insurance to comply with the Affordable Care Act, will soon have a new alternative to the federal Healtcare.gov marketplace to shop for reasonably priced plans online.
Florida Health Choices is launching its own online marketplace, where residents can shop, compare and enroll in plans for essential health benefits, including doctors’ appointments, hospital stays, emergency room trips and prescriptions.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, Floridians can visit www.MyFloridaChoices.org and click “Shop for Plans.”
“Florida Health Choices is thrilled to offer an online health insurance marketplace for individuals and families who live in Florida,” said Florida Health Choices CEO Rose Naff. “Whether you are coming off your parents’ plan or simply want to start the New Year with affordable coverage, we have a plan that is right for you.”
State lawmakers established Florida Health Choices in 2008 to provide improved access to affordable, quality health care by creating a competitive free-market option for purchasing health insurance and health services. In 2014, Health Choices began rolling Florida’s Health Insurance Marketplace in stages, with the biggest phase coming online Monday.
After answering fundamental questions, such as age and zip code, users can browse anonymously through the options, which offer side-by-side comparisons. Plans start as low as $92 per month.
“For some shoppers, it is all about the monthly premium,” said former state Sen. Durell Peaden, who chairs the Florida Health Choices Board of Directors. “For others, it is about your own doctor or hospital being in the network or the amount of out-of-pocket costs you are expected to pay.”
Peaden adds that Florida’s Health Insurance Marketplace allows shoppers to customize a search based on a number of features.
“Once you find the plan you want,” Peaden said, “You can enroll online or chat with one of our agents.”
The Health Insurance Marketplace not only provides coverage plans tailored to fit any budget, but it also helps residents avoid the health care tax penalty. For 2015, the penalty for not having health insurance is either $325 per person or 2 percent of yearly household income, whichever is greater.
Since open enrollment ends Feb. 15, there is little time to waste for Floridians who plan to shop for health insurance for the New Year.
