The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has granted Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida an 11 percent rate hike for its Cover Florida program. The increase will be effective April 15, following the required 45-day notice to enrollees. The carrier had requested a 30 percent rate hike, which was denied by the OIR as excessive.
The Cover Florida health program became available on Jan. 5, 2009. Although strongly backed by Gov. Charlie Crist as a way to decrease the number of uninsureds in Florida, the program has had limited success. As of December 2009, approximately 5,000 Floridians were enrolled, less than one percent of the state's uninsured. Varying plans are available from several carriers. The Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is available in all 67 counties.
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