TALLAHASSEE — Nine firms want to market low-cost health care plans to about 4-million uninsured adults in Florida under Gov. Charlie Crist's new "Cover Florida" program.
The companies submitted proposals by Monday's deadline, but details will not be public until Sept. 8 under state bidding laws.
Crist has said his goal is to provide health insurance for $150 a month that provides preventative, primary and urgent care.
The state will approve at least one statewide plan and may add regional plans to give consumers greater choice.
A document released by the state Agency for Health Care Administration listed the applicants: American Management Advisors, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Celtic Insurance Company, Florida Health Care Plan, JMH Health Plan, Medica Health Plans of Florida, Total Health Choice, United Health Care and Universal Healthcare.
"Certainly, it's a relatively sizable number," said James Bracher of Florida Association of Health Plans, a trade association for health insurers. "With the companies that are there, I would expect that pretty much every area of the state would be covered."
Noteworthy insurers that did not apply include Tampa-based WellCare, Aetna and Humana.
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