[Y-Move]

I will be moving from New Jersey to Florida in the next few months.
I am not old enought for Medicare but I won't be working. At least not full time.
Does anyone have any idea how expensive health insurance is in Florida for a single person. It is crazy expensive here in New Jersey.
Any, any recommendations for companies that issue health insurance.
Thank you so much.

[Jammie]

Hi Y, I'm not from Fla. YET, but I was concerned about the same thing. I'm younger then you are, but wanted to know about health insurance, too in case I end up being employed where it's not offered. Just type in "Florida Health Insurance". If I remember correctly, Humana, Celtic, and Aetna were the three that I chose to do a search on. I believe they also offer Blue Cross. I guess my choice would be Aetna, but everyone had different circumstances. You can fill out the form and it'll give you a quote right on the internet. So far, I haven't been contacted by anyone so that's good, if you know what I mean. My search produced several options with different deductibles, premiums, etc. Good luck.

[Y-Move]

Jammie
Thanks so much for your answer. I'll check it out that way.
I have Aetna now, in New Jersey, and when I check the Floridda rates - they were almost HALF of what I pay here for the EXACT same coverage.
Thanks again!

[Jammie]

Y~I know exactly what you mean. I couldn't believe how many options Fla. has for private health insurance compared to So. Dak. I also was shocked to see that our car insurance would actually be a few dollars lower then it is here. From the things I've read here, I'm wondering if the high cost of living isn't more in southern Fla. then in other parts of the state.

[RAINBOWWAVES]

I know one thing, medicaid is a nightmare here.

[lulu]

It varies widely from county to county...last week there was a report on this in the media. I thought I'd lose it when I read it. Though, it makes sense cause my mom went to a foot doctor the other day and they wanted to do an OP foot surgery right there in the office when she went in for a corn! I told him, absolutely NO and we left..Even the secretary was swirling her eyes in disbelief. With me, 3 gyn's have wanted to castrate me. Forgive all my personal stories...but I want people to understand & it's all beginning to come together for me.
S.FL is the highest...reason being is that we have way too many doctors concentrated here. So they request more visits, tests in order to meet their salary goals - and of course the issues having to pay astronomical suit demands, malpractice ins. (some are going without) & now ins. for the building... & medical ins. is paying them less & less each day. Anyhow, the report said that in other counties in can be about half of what we pay down here. Doesn't seem fair. But again, I'm only talking about South Dade County issues, not the state as a whole. Pays to shop around in Florida, that's all I can say.

[lulu]

I don't have Medicaid...but when I worked in the field moons ago, I remember they'd deny all claims for dumb reasons, most were simply written off, cause at 33 1/3% attorney collection fees - most of these people didn't have money anyway - not worth it to try to collect. I'd hate to see how it is nowadays.

[Y-Move]

Thanks Lulu:
I will certainly shop around for health insurance.
It's gotten really horrible.
When we pay so much for insurance and then have to go to a drug store or supermarket - and stand in line -to get a flu shot because our Doctors can't get the serum. Have you had that in Florida for the last couple of years?
Something is really wrong with our system.

[lulu]

Well, 2 yrs ago I had to do without my flu shot cause there was a shortage... though, I've noticed that no doctors here want to prescribe generics - only name brands. I suspect (& know of a few) get kick backs from pharm.companies. Trips, gifts, free samples, etc. Also, the ER's here...I went to Baptist ER room about 4 yrs ago & waited for like 4 hrs. & nobody ever came to see me - there were people with cancer & aids that had been sitting there like forever. Needless to say, I felt like a fool seeing sicker people & walked out & cured myself. Doctors offices are overwhelmed w/patients and send you to the ER for a simple ingrown toenail so that puts stress on ER's - it's a mess. I hate to say this but I wish the govt. would intervene. Literally, our lives are at stake here...

[Jammie]

I'm sorry that I've misled you somewhat. I didn't realize that in Fla. the healthcare premium was associated with the county you live in. (Not sure if it's that way up here~I'm under the impression that it's the same across the state) The county that I did my research on was Marion Co. so that may make a huge difference compared to south Fla.