The bill amends the existing Florida Health Choices Program, renaming it the Florida Employee Health Choices Program, and introduces several enhancements aimed at improving access to affordable health insurance for both employers and employees. Key changes include the implementation of individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements, which enable employers to make direct health care contributions to employees, allowing them to choose their own health plans. The bill also revises definitions, purposes, and components of the program, streamlining the purchasing process for health insurance products while eliminating certain pricing transparency requirements. Additionally, it establishes a new administering corporation, Florida Employee Health Choices, Inc., and updates the governance structure, including the board of directors' membership and responsibilities.

Moreover, the bill outlines eligibility and participation requirements for employers, individuals, and vendors, emphasizing voluntary participation and specifying the types of health insurance products available through the program. It deletes the option for risk pooling and exemptions from certain Florida Insurance Code requirements, while introducing a surcharge pricing mechanism to fund administrative services. The bill also establishes confidentiality for personal identifying information of enrollees and proprietary business information held by the corporation, ensuring that such data is exempt from public records requirements. Furthermore, it allows individuals with employer-sponsored health care coverage to opt out of Medicaid managed care plans and utilize Medicaid financial assistance for their costs, with the agency required to report on participation and cost-effectiveness starting June 30, 2026. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 440 Filed: 408.910, 409.821, 409.9122, 409.977