CS/HB 7169 Summary

• Establishes the Florida Health Choices Plus Program to help uninsured Floridians gain access to affordable health coverage through a centralized marketplace.

• Eligibility limited to ages 19-64, uninsured, ineligible for Medicaid, and either parents/caretakers of children under 19 or individuals receiving/eligible for Supplemental Security Income with household income not exceeding 100% of federal poverty level.

• Each enrollee receives $2,000 annually in a CARE account (Contribution Amount for Responsible Expenditures), with enrollees required to contribute $25 monthly; unused funds can be carried forward or converted to health savings accounts.

• Program operates two 30-day open enrollment periods annually beginning March 31, 2014, enrollment on first-come, first-served basis, with Department of Children and Families determining eligibility using same simplified process as Medicaid and CHIP.

• Appropriates $18,863,753 in recurring funds and $6,124,421 in nonrecurring funds for fiscal year 2013-2014; also creates task force to study health care workforce expansion and Medicaid alternatives; effective July 1, 2013.