Congresswoman Lois Frankel heralded that, beginning today, despite the shutdown of the federal government, South Floridians and millions of Americans have access to affordable, quality health insurance as new online Health Insurance Marketplaces opened in every state including Florida, under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. There are about 3.5 million Floridians who are uninsured and eligible for health care through the Marketplace, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Starting today, the health care law will allow South Floridians and millions of Americans looking for coverage to purchase affordable, quality health insurance through the new online Marketplace,” Frankel said.  “This new online Marketplace provides a very simple way to get health insurance:  insurance that will meet your needs, your lifestyle and your budget at any income level.”

The new Marketplaces build on the last three years, during which Americans have already been seeing lower costs and better coverage because of the Affordable Care Act.  

Because of the Affordable Care Act, 3.7 million Floridians have received access to free preventive services, and more than 5.5 million Floridians are free from worrying about lifetime limits on their coverage. In 2012 alone, more than 237,000 Florida seniors saved over $161 million on prescription drugs, an average of $678 per beneficiary.

In the new online Marketplace, families and individuals looking for coverage are able to shop among affordable choices, explained in easy-to-understand language.  It is estimated that substantially more than half of those shopping in the new Marketplace will qualify for discounts on their monthly premium, based on their income, which will make the premiums more affordable. In this new online Marketplace, there is no denial for pre-existing conditions, no annual or lifetime limits on coverage, and no higher rates for women compared to men.

The open enrollment period for the first year of the Marketplaces runs through March 31, 2014.  Enrollment is a six-month process and will build over time.  For example, under the Massachusetts state health reform, three times as many people enrolled during the second half of the first year, as in the first half.

Constituents looking for health coverage should go to www.healthcare.gov and by putting in their zip code, they will be able to see and compare plans and premiums.  If constituents have questions about the Marketplace, they can call 1-800-318-2596, a toll-free hotline open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Individual consumers in Florida will have an average of 102 health plan choices, the second most options in the nation. The rates announced for the Health Insurance Marketplace in Florida are comparable to the national average for plans being offered in the Marketplace.

Plans in the Marketplace will be categorized as either “gold,” “silver,” or “bronze” or “platinum.” In the Fort Lauderdale-Pompano metro area in Broward County and West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach metro area in Palm Beach County, consumers will be able to choose from among 132 qualified health plans—and all must cover individuals with pre-existing conditions and provide free preventive care.

In the Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metro area, a 27-year old who makes $25,000 per year will pay $74 per month for the lowest cost bronze plan and $145 per month for the second lowest cost silver plan, taking into account tax credits. For a family of four in the Ft. Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metro area with an income of $50,000 per year, the lowest bronze plan would cost only $24 per month.

In the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach metro area, a 27-year old who makes $25,000 per year will pay $72 per month for the lowest cost bronze plan and $145 per month for the second lowest cost silver plan, taking into account tax credits. For a family of four in West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, FL with an income of $50,000 per year, the lowest bronze plan would cost only $18 per month.

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