Individual Health Benefits
In Florida, your ability to buy an individual health insurance policy from a private insurance company no longer depends on your health status. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as Obamacare, anyone can get a plan that will cover all pre-existing conditions and medications. You might also qualify for a subsidy to help pay for your Obamacare plan. If you qualify, the subsidy can be used to reduce the cost of your monthly premium. To take advantage of a subsidy, you must choose a health plan that has been approved by the federal government and the government of Florida. These plans, known as On-Exchange Plans, meet a set of standards that aim to eliminate benefit loopholes to make sure that people with pre-existing conditions are not being denied coverage.
Facts about Affordable Care Act (ACA) Insurance:
- Guaranteed issue. You can’t be turned down for coverage or charged more based on preexisting health conditions.
- Tax credits and subsidies could help with your costs depending on how much you earn.
- Plans cover a consistent set of 10 essential health benefits, including preventive care, maternity care, and prescription coverage.
- Unless you qualify for a special enrollment, you must enroll during the annual open enrollment, usually from November 1st to December 15th for a plan starting January 1st of the following year.
If you don’t qualify for a subsidy through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, you can still choose among those plans and pay the full cost or consider one of the many private health insurance plans available in Florida’s private marketplace. Off-exchange plans are private health insurance plans available directly through an insurance carrier that do not take any subsidy into account. These plans are good options for individuals who do not qualify for a subsidy on ACA plans as they usually have plans with better coverage and larger networks.
