Florida Residents Pay Some of the Highest Health Insurance Rates in the Nation

Not everything is sunny for the residents of the Sunshine State. A recent study has found that Floridians pay some of the highest rates in the country for health insurance. According to the Kaiser Foundation health insurance rates are up 87% in the State. Meaning that those who can afford it and are buying individual health insurance are paying over $11,000.00 per year.

Now that is not to say that it is impossible to find low cost health insurance in Florida. It just takes a little doing. Of course the best source for affordable health insurance is to obtain a group health insurance plan from your place of business. Even if your job does not pay 100% of the health benefit premium, and fewer and fewer businesses are, your portion of what you would pay to be part of the group plan is almost always less than what it would cost to purchase insurance on your own. If you cannot get medical insurance from your job, check if there are any trade organizations, or groups you belong to that offer their membership access to low-cost health insurance. Florida like many states does offer programs for children without insurance. In Florida the program is called Florida Kidcare, and it provides a full arrange of health benefits for children of low income families who do not qualify for Medicaid, but do not earn enough to otherwise afford insurance on their own.

If you must shop for individual private health insurance in Florida, finding low-cost medical insurance could be difficult, but experts say there are ways you can lower your rates. Primarily these amount to making lifestyle changes. The surest and quickest way to save money on health insurance and healthcare in general is to lose weight and quit smoking. Obese persons and smokers, if they can even get health insurance, on average pay double in monthly premiums than a non-smoking healthy person. Several insurance companies now offer what’s called a Health Risk Assessment, and people shopping for low-cost medical coverage that are willing to take one, may find themselves saving money. By taking such an assessment from a qualified professional and receiving a “low-risk” certification, the applicant may receive a lower premium.

Lifestyle changes are not all that easy, if everyone would eat right obesity would not be the epidemic it now is in this country. And of course there are a multitude of benefits one receives from making healthy lifestyle changes. But by getting in shape now, Floridians not only could look better in their bathing suits, with the money they save on healthcare, they may actually be able to afford to spend some time on South Beach to flaunt it.