Florida Senate approves Crist health plan

TALLAHASSEE — A unanimous nod from the Florida Senate on Wednesday brought Gov. Charlie Crist closer to his goal of offering health insurance to uninsured Floridians. But victory is a long way off.

As questions linger about whether Crist's plan will actually help the 20 percent of the population without coverage, he faces resistance from the House, which has its own plan.

Crist's proposal is voluntary and relies almost completely on participation of private insurers. It would be available to individuals at 300 percent of the federal poverty level or less who've been uninsured for at least six months. For a family of four, that's an income of $63,600.

"I think the governor's on the right track," said Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, a retired doctor who sponsored Crist's "Cover Florida" plan in the Senate (SB 2534). "Everybody needs a medical home."

To what extent insurers would participate, however, is unclear.

Mike Hightower, a lobbyist for Blue Cross Blue Shield, said company officials have met three or four times with Crist aides. He said some changes have eased the company's concerns, but Blue Cross wants to see the final bill. "A lot of it depends on what the final product is," he said.

A spokesman for United HealthCare said the company supported Crist's goal and was eager to analyze the details of final legislation.

Crist's plan would exempt insurers from providing coverage for most of the 51 procedures or treatments now mandated under state law. But his plan would still require coverage of annual checkups and mammograms, and screenings for cervical and prostate cancer. Crist's plan also requires insurers to accept all patients, regardless of health status.

If Crist's plan becomes law, the state would formally invite insurers, including health maintenance organizations and tax-supported health care districts, to offer affordable policies to people ages 19 to 64 who are uninsured. A marketing campaign would get under way by fall, and policies would be sold starting Jan. 1.

Crist's goal is to keep premiums as low as $150 a month and to offer separate plans for catastrophic and noncatastrophic coverage. Many details would become clear when the state health care agency and the Office of Insurance Regulation issue a formal notice to insurers to offer policies.

The House plan (HB 7081) includes Crist's approach but also calls for creating a state corporation with a 15-member oversight board to contract with vendors to offer health care options for individuals and small businesses.

Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, the House Health Care Council chairman, insists that he wants Crist's ideas to pass. But he said the House is committed to its "Marketplace" program. "We think there's room for both," Bean said of the two plans. "There's a need for both." The House is expected to debate its plan today.

The health care debate is Crist's toughest test this session, and he is looking outside the Capitol to rally support and increase pressure on the House to pass his plan. So far, groups representing retailers, hospitals, Realtors and small businesses have backed it.

"We need to get this thing passed, and we only have 2 1/2 weeks to do it," Crist said Wednesday.

Shortly after the Senate vote, Crist invited the media to cover his visit to a Tallahassee hospital's urgent care unit, where officials said 30 percent of the patients are uninsured. With Crist were Peaden and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Rep. Will Kendrick, R-Carrabelle.

Times staff writers David DeCamp and Kris Hundley contributed to this report. Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.