Q&A: answers to some of your Cover Florida questions

By Christine Jordan Sexton and Carol Gentry
12/12/2008 © Florida Health News

Basic questions on the new state-sponsored  program for the uninsured, Cover Florida, are answered at www.coverfloridahealthcare.com.  But a lot of questions aren’t addressed there. 

So Florida Health News pitched some of them to officials at the Office of Insurance Regulation and the Agency for Health Care Administration, who tracked down answers. Here they are:

Q. If you buy a plan when it becomes available Jan. 5, when does the coverage take effect?
A: The first day of the month that follows the insurer’s acceptance of the application and receipt of the premium.

Q: If you lose coverage by accepting a buyout or severance package, rather than being laid off, do you still qualify for Cover Florida?
A: Yes.

Q: If you leave a job and accept the insurance extension coverage under COBRA, can you shift to Cover Florida?
A: No. If you turned down COBRA, you qualify for Cover Florida. If you accepted the COBRA coverage, you have to stay on it until it expires, even though the premiums are high.

Q: Do state laws that require insurers to pay bills promptly apply to Cover Florida?
A: Yes. By contract, the Cover Florida plans must comply with the insurance code.

Q: Does your Cover Florida plan end if you switch jobs?
A: No, you can take it with you.

Q: If your employer drops his coverage for workers, can you apply for Cover Florida?
A: No, you have to wait six months.

Q. What if I can't afford my employer health insurance anymore? Does the six-month wait for Cover Florida still apply?
A. Yes.