FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: ALIA FARAJ
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2003
(850) 488-5394
GOVERNOR BUSH ANNOUNCES CREATION OF GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE
MIAMI--Governor Jeb Bush today issued an Executive Order, creating a
Governor's Task Force on Access to Affordable Health Insurance. More
than 2.8 million Floridians are uninsured. At the Governor's request,
Lt. Governor Toni Jennings and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher
will co-chair a task force to study the issue. The 15 - member team will
consist of business leaders, health policy experts, health care
providers and consumers.
"Access to health insurance is becoming increasingly out of
reach for hard-working Floridians," said Governor Bush. "I am concerned
for the Floridians who don't have coverage and live every day in fear of
the catastrophic illness that can bankrupt a family. I believe it is
time we better understand what is contributing to the lack of health
insurance accessibility, and work to develop sound public policy to
address it."
According to the Bureau of the Census, there is a large disparity in the
degree of uninsured by ethnic group. Twelve percent of non-Hispanic
whites are currently uninsured, compared to 21 percent of African
Americans and 34 percent of Hispanics who are uninsured. Statewide, the
problem of the uninsured places an increased burden on health facilities
as well as employers. The rate of avoidable hospitalization is 50-70
percent lower for the insured versus the uninsured, and uncompensated
care in Florida's hospitals is growing at the rate of 12 to 13 percent
per year. Many Florida employers no longer provide insurance coverage
to their employees due to the high costs, and many of those who continue
to provide coverage are forced to
shift more premium cost to their employees.
"Our business climate is being threatened by the ever-expanding cost of
providing coverage for employees," said Lt. Governor Jennings.
"Increasingly, small businesses are being forced to make the difficult
decision to stop providing coverage, and large employers are having to
shift more costs to their employees. We can't sustain this trend."
"Many hardworking individuals and small businesses are facing
double-digit increases in their premiums and are struggling to obtain,
and even maintain, health insurance," said Gallagher. "I am especially
concerned that small employers will be forced to stop offering health
insurance to their employees, leaving workers and their families with
little or no options for coverage."
The Task Force will provide recommendations to improve access to
affordable health insurance and achieve more predictable cost, while
maintaining consumer choice. The Task Force will examine contributing
factors to increased costs and decreased accessibility of health
insurance in Florida; federal issues that may contribute to higher
health insurance costs; pilot programs and other alternative approaches
to traditional health insurance; and potential partnerships the state
can use to increase available health insurance coverage.
# # #
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 03-160