Florida health care exchanges information

Most of the 7.9 million Floridians who have employer-sponsored insurance, about 52% of insured Floridians, won’t see major changes

A cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act is the new health care exchanges that will sell insurance online to individuals and small businesses. The law requires that these exchanges sell plans to everyone, no matter their health, and at regulated prices. Some people may also be eligible for subsidies to offset the cost of buying health coverage.

Florida, along with 33 other states, has opted to let the federal government run its health exchange. It will come online Oct. 1. The exchanges are intended to promote competition among insurers .

The government has begun a marketing campaign to educate insurance buyers and set up call centers to answer questions about the exchanges; one center is in Tampa.

Many businesses complain that the government has been slow to explain the Affordable Care Act — hence the Obama administration’s decision in July to delay implementation of a provision of the law that requires large employers to offer health insurance.

Florida Blue intends to offer plans on Florida’s federally run health exchange. It says it can’t afford not to in order to protect its dominance in the individual insurance market in Florida.

Eight other health insurers have filed documents with the state that indicate they may compete for customers on the exchanges, though not all are expected to follow through. Those insurers include Aetna, Coventry Health Care Plan, Cigna and Florida Health Care Plan.

Nationwide, 120 health insurers have filed plans to offer insurance on the marketplace, and most states have at least five insurers competing for business. But not all insurers are jumping into these exchanges. Kaiser Health News reported in June that UnitedHealth Group recently disclosed to investors it would only offer plans in a dozen states after previously saying it would sell on 25 exchanges. Cigna will focus on five states and Aetna on 14 states, Kaiser reports.

Health Insurance Marketplace in Florida

If you live in Florida, you’ll use this website, HealthCare.gov, to apply for coverage, compare plans, and enroll. You can apply as early as October 1, 2013. Learn more about the Marketplace and how you can get ready.