Sept. 08--SEBRING -- One Highlands County mother was recently shocked when she received notice that the health insurance premium for coverage of her children will increase on Oct. 1 from about $143 to $299 per month.
The parent, who did not want her name used, said she has been receiving insurance for her children through the Florida Healthy Kids program, a nonprofit corporation that offers insurance for families who don't qualify for Medicaid.
But, as a result of the increase, she said, she'll have to look elsewhere and will likely end up paying for a plan with much higher deductibles.
The increase in premiums, which Florida Healthy Kids says is because of increased insurance requirements by the Affordable Care Act, will affect families with incomes above a certain level based on family size, such as $48,500 for a family of four.
Currently, Highlands County has enrolled in the program 122 children whose families exceed the income level restrictions and must pay full premiums, said Zoe Linafelt, a spokeswoman for the program.
Rebecca Matthews, the chief executive officer for the program, said that the subsidized premiums for children of families whose incomes are less than the limits won't change. Those are $15 to $20. In Highlands County, she said, 686 children receive subsidized insurance premiums.
The Healthy Kids Program is one of four government-sponsored programs aimed at providing comprehensive, affordable health services to children, ages 5 to 18, who aren't eligible for Medicaid, according to its web site.
Coverage includes doctor visits, immunizations, dental care, emergency care, hospital stays and vision services, according to the web site.
However, the parent said that the $299 premium did not include dental.
The web site said the increase in premiums for those who are above the income limits for subsidized premiums, is because of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services increasing coverage requirements, the web site said.
The expanded benefits included the removal of all annual and lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits, the addition of benefits that assist older children with developmental skills and a change on the limit on eyeglasses from one pair every two years to one each year, the web site said.
Matthews said that the increased requirements for the Affordable Healthcare Act were the reason for the increases.
"They are the main driver of the increase in costs," she said.
Matthews said the competitive bids were sought from companies providing the insurance. The aim was to choose a company based on factors that included the premiums and the insurance company's reach within the state, she said.
Sunshine Health was chosen for the full pay plans.
In a letter to parents who were enrolled under the full-pay option, Matthews wrote: "Despite the federal government's assurances that rates would drop and access would improve -- insurance rates increased, many providers canceled coverage and the makeup of our coverage was forced to change. I assure you that we at FHK were as shocked and upset as each of you when we learned how much the coverage costs increased."
Another concern was whether parents who could not afford the full pay rates would be able to enroll in a children's health insurance plan available through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace immediately during a special enrollment period or they would have to wait until next year.
Now, the special enrollment period for the marketplace has been approved and those who choose a marketplace plan by Oct. 1 will have coverage through the market place as of Oct. 1, Florida Healthy Kids notified parents.
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