Crist's health care plan running into roadblocks

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

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Gov. Charlie Crist discusses his health care plane Wednesday in Tallahassee.

TALLAHASSEE (Bay News 9) -- One of Gov. Charlie Crist's top priorities is affordable health care.

During the legislative session he put together a plan for a program that would cost $150 a month and would be available to anyone who needs insurance. But the once popular Cover Florida plan is running into roadblocks.

The plan is a bare-bones health care plan at a rock-bottom price. Uninsured residents are supposed to be able to buy it through private companies who have signed on with the state.

Just a few months ago insurance companies were ready to get on board with the plan, but with the deadline for doing that under a week away, so far, not a single one has signed up.

A new report by a Washington think-tank finds the plan would be too expensive.

Three-quarters of the uninsured are poor, and even a $150 a month could be out of their range.

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Crist's health care plan

Crist disagrees.

"Other groups and people can have their opinion of it that's fine; I respect that," Crist said. "But common sense tells me that if it's a $150 a month instead of $700 a month, a lot more of our fellow Floridians will be able to afford it, and that's a good thing."

Florida's agency for health care administration is in charge of negotiating with the insurance companies. Officials there say they expect at least a few insurers to come to the table before the deadline next Tuesday.