Your State Government's Oversight of Health Insurance in Florida
The Florida state-level Government is responsible to state resident for preparing and managing health insurance requirements and regulations applicable to the state. In fulfilling this obligation, the State Government generally tries to balance consumer protections with an economic environment that promotes strong financial and economic growth. With regards to health care insurance, the State Government addresses three separate constituent groups: resident consumers, insurance companies, and independent licensed brokers.
The Government's main method for promoting a beneficial health insurance market is the professional licensing and management of health insurance companies and independent brokers. For managing insurance companies, the Government prepares basic standards for health insurance products and requires routine financial statement audits, to assure that tax requirements are being complied with. For health insurance brokers, the State Government sets professional and licensing requirements, takes care of broker license testing and issuance of licenses, oversees continuing education criteria, and is responsible to collect license fees for brokers. The State level Government is in charge of looking into insurance fraud schemes, especially when it affects consumers or when it threatens the state business environment.
For state insurance consumers, the State Government offers health insurance guidelines for consumers to help state residents locate their best insurance choices. The Government will also help consumers file disagreements and appeals with their insurance company when a dispute happens relating to the policy coverage or terms. And, the State-level Government has the duty of implementing the State version of the Federal Medicare program where Federally funded insurance is available to children who do not have health insurance, uninsured individuals, qualified seniors, or self-employed persons.