Florida hospitals begin offering insurance

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Daytona Beach, Florida-based Florida Hospital has announced that it will begin offering insurance to patients next year. Other hospitals in Florida are also following suit. Florida hospital is part of the Adventist Health System, the largest not-for-profit health system with 44 hospitals in ten states. As part of the Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital was already providing health care services to low income and underprivileged patients at subsidized rates. The new insurance plans will be available to patients of all types.

The five Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties are working with Health First Health Plans of Brevard County, Fla., to create the infrastructure for the plan. Health First Health Plans will manage the operational responsibilities through the Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler provider network.

The new health insurance option is in its initial planning stages now and is expected to launch in January 2014.

The move by Florida Hospital will also put that plan on Florida’s health insurance exchange, giving Florida residents in those counties the ability to compare this plan against others available in their area. The offering also accounts for a private sector partnership between the not-for-profit health care provider and a private company.

Health First Health Plans is ranked #2 in Florida among Medicare Advantage and commercial (private) plans. It has also earned 4.5 out of 5 stars as an overall plan rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the past three consecutive years (2011, 2012, 2013). According to a statement from the hospital, staff and plan managers are currently working to set up the plan infrastructure and establish a physicians network.

“We believe that the healthcare system should be managed locally by providers,” said Daryl Tol, Chief Executive Officer, Volusia/Flagler division of Florida Hospital. “By offering the community another insurance option, we will be able to provide even more residents with the high quality, compassionate care for which Florida Hospital is known.”