Purchasing individual health insurance policies in Florida

Individual health insurance is very important as insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses. It is a contract between an insurance provider, which is usually a company or government institution, and an individual. The contract determines the exact type and amount of health care costs that will be covered by the health insurance provider. Choosing a proper health insurance plan is very important and everybody should become acquainted with numerous state and federal laws before deciding which type of individual health insurance to purchase. Florida health insurance law regulates health insurance rules in this state. This article will provide quick guide for purchasing individual health insurance policies in Florida.

Florida Health Insurance

As in many other states and countries, one’s health insurance in Florida is partially dependent on the health status. Each individual will have to be examined and the overall risk of health care expenses will have to be estimated before the insurance contract is signed. However, even if a person becomes ill the law protects the citizens since it prevents denied or limited coverage under the chosen group health plan. However, health plans in Florida must limit exclusion of pre-existing conditions. Health care insurance cannot be canceled because the person is ill and most of them are guaranteed renewable. In Florida, if a person had at least three months of coverage under a fully insured group health plan and then loses it, it is possible to buy an individual health plan from the same company that provided group coverage. People with low and modest household income are generally entitled to free or subsidized health coverage for themselves and members of their family. This is defined by the Florida Medicaid program that also offers aid for pregnant women, elderly population, families with children and disabled individuals.

Limits of Florida Health Insurance

In some cases, the laws on health insurance may not apply for an individual. Before purchasing an individual health care insurance, a person should learn and understand how and when the state law of Florida won’t protect them.

In case when a person changes jobs the old health benefits cannot be transferred. This means that the new health plan may not cover all of the benefits of the old one. Moreover, the new employer is not obliged to offer any health benefits. Certain employers have waiting periods before health benefits begin.

If it happens that a person has a break in coverage of more than three months, he or she will need to satisfy a new pre-existing condition exclusion period before joining a new plan. Even if the coverage continues, it is possible that certain pre-existing condition exclusion period for some benefits exists. Sometimes it will be necessary to wait up to one year before the new health insurance plan starts paying for drugs prescribed for a pre-existing condition.

Moreover, individual health plans in Florida may turn their clients down because for their health status or because they are not federally eligible.