Low-Cost Florida Health Insurance Scarce - Health Insurance Higher Than Minimum Wage

Florida residents who can afford health insurancelife and don't even prevent heart attacks, yet $30
pay an average of $11,480 per year for familybillion was spent on those last year. Mutual of
coverage, which is about what the averageOmaha found that almost 76% percent of people
minimum-wage earner brings home. Premiums areeligible for angioplasty or heart bypass surgery
up 87% according to Kaiser Family Foundation.were able to "safely avoid it by making the
The days of "low-cost" health insurance are all butcomprehensive lifestyle changes", saving almost
gone unless you have help from a professional$30,000 per person. It is plain to see that
insurance consultant.changing lifestyle is more cost effective than
The cost of caring for "disease" continues to risesurgery.
faster than inflation according to an article thisLow-Cost Insurance Consultation
month in Newsweek magazine. It said "over 47In an effort to find affordable health insurance
million Americans don't have health insurance atrates, many are turning to health insurance
all". Those with low-cost health insurance usuallyconsultants for help. In a phone interview,
get these from employers, but with costs rising, itconsultant Morgan Moran said, "The best way to
is obvious that the health insurance situation infind affordable, low-cost health insurance is to
Florida is getting worse.have an employer-sponsored group health
Taking care of employees is the primary concerninsurance plan." Group health insurance plans are
of a good employer. But that has been perceivedthe most affordable, low cost health insurance
as "expensive" by some companies as it meansplans out there, aside from state-sponsored
providing the employee with vacations, bonuses,health insurance plans. If you can obtain health
incentive pay, and of course, health insuranceinsurance from your employer, you will pay even
coverage. In the future, Florida businesses mayless for your health insurance than you would if
be able to offer low-cost health insurance toyou purchased a group health insurance plan on
residents who are willing to make a few changesyour own.
in lifestyle.Most employers have certain requirements an
The New England Journal of Medicine published aemployee must meet before he or she can be a
major study on health insurance recently that saidpart of the employer-sponsored group health
low cost insurance rates may be made availableinsurance plan. These requirements range from
to those willing to go through a certified "healththe number of hours the employee works, to the
risk assessment". These health risk managers lookemployee's status, i.e., whether the employee
at your lifestyle, and your current state of health,works full-time or part-time. Employers
and certify that the person is "healthy" and asometimes have time requirements as well. This
"low-risk" which can qualify the applicant for lowermeans the employee must be with the company
insurance rates. The only other way to getfor a certain amount of time before he or she is
low-cost health insurance in Florida is to get itconsidered eligible for the employer-sponsored
from your employer as part of their group healthgroup health insurance plan.
insurance plan.Employer-sponsored group health insurance plans
There are many health insurance consultants outare usually the most affordable, low cost health
there who can help Floridians find low-costinsurance plans for a variety of reasons. If you
insurance, such as Florida Health Insurance Web -have an employer-sponsored group health
- insurance consultant, Morgan Moran said,insurance plan, the health insurance premiums are
"Change a few things about your lifestyle, andeither divided between you and your employer, or
lower rates could be available". The insurancepaid completely by your employer. This means
industry believes, most people would change aone of two things. Either you are required to pay
few things to get lower insurance rates, andhalf of the health insurance premiums plus a low
assure living a longer happier life. These changescost co-payment or you are only required to pay
may include a better diet, more exercise, and lessan affordable co-payment.
high risk behavior like "skydiving" or "bungeeEmployer-sponsored group health insurance plans
jumping". Until now, insurance plans rarely tooklike this have become even more affordable and
behavior into account.low cost when you factor in your spouse and
Many Floridians are looking for a quick fix. If theychildren. Rather than purchase individual health
can take a pill or have a stint plugged into theirinsurance policies for each of your family
heart they would, rather than change theirmembers, or pay out-of-pocket for health care
lifestyle, after all, it does sound easier. The Newcosts, you can add your spouse and your children
England Journal confirmed what other researchto your employer-sponsored group health
showed- that angioplasties and stints don't prolonginsurance plan.