Cover Florida Has Fewer Than 1,000 Enrollees in First Two Months

Efforts to increase enrollment in the Cover Florida program during its first two months have not been very effective, with 952 state residents signing up for the program since it began on Jan. 5, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Under the program, insurers offer several low-cost health plans. Of the residents who have signed up for the plans in the past two months, 82% are covered by catastrophic plans while 18% have ones that emphasizes preventive care, according to Gov. Charlie Crist's (R) office. Residents between ages 19 and 64 who have been uninsured for at least six months are eligible for the program.

Greg Mellowe, policy director for the Florida Community Health Action Information Network, said the low enrollment rate in the plans is not surprising given the current economic recession. He said, "Since subsidies to help low-income people pay their premiums were completely absent from the mix, even fewer of those who might have considered the limited coverage before will do so now in the midst of a recession."

In a statement, Crist asked state and local organizations to do more to promote the program (Myers Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 3/25).