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Information on Florida Health Insurance, & Health Insurance Plans

Health Insurance

Nobody plans on getting sick or injured. But life is full of unexpected events that force us to seek medical care. These include everything from a common cold to a more prolonged illness or injury. When these situations arise, your best financial defense is to have adequate health insurance.

Health insurance can help protect your assets and pay medical expenses, but selecting the policy to best meet your needs can be challenging. This guide explains the various types of policies that are available, offers tips on choosing a policy and provides definitions for the numerous health insurance terms you may encounter. If you have any questions after reading this guide, please call the Florida Department of Ffinancial Services (DFS) Consumer Helpline toll-free at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Your first health insurance choice may be to decide between traditional health insurance and a managed care option. With traditional health insurance, you -- the policyholder -- select a health care provider, such as a doctor or hospital. You may have to pay for services when rendered and then submit the bill to the insurance company for reimbursement of the portion it agreed to pay under the policy terms. Frequently, the provider will submit the bill directly to the insurer and await payment.

The managed care system combines the delivery and financing of health care services. This limits your choice of doctors and hospitals. In return for this limited choice, however, you usually pay less for medical care (i.e., doctor visits, prescriptions, surgery and other covered benefits) than you would with traditional health insurance. The managed care network controls health care services.

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