October 13, 2009 Newswires

Florida Tells Insurers to Offer Medigap to Disabled Under 65

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Sean P Carr

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty ordered insurers to offer Medicare supplement policies for individuals under 65 years of age who are enrolled in Medicare because of disability or end-stage renal disease.

The commissioner's order applies to insurance companies that have not yet filed new rates or had them approved in compliance with a new state law that took effect Oct. 1. McCarty is requiring these insurers to use their current rates for the same coverage offered to those aged 65 or older; he said the order will ensure coverage is offered to those individuals the law made eligible.

"Companies should have filed the new rate for this coverage well in advance of the Oct. 1 open enrollment date. There is no excuse for not offering the coverage," McCarty said in a statement.

Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act, H.B. 675, cleared both houses of the legislature unanimously and was signed by Gov. Charlie Crist on June 10, 2009. Mourning, a former all-star professional basketball player turned health care advocate, was in attendance when Crist signed the bill. Mourning was diagnosed with degenerative kidney disease and kidney failure in 2000; he received a kidney transplant in 2003.

In a bill-signing statement, National Kidney Foundation of Florida CEO Stephanie Hutchinson said, "We commend Governor Crist for recognizing the importance of improving access to care for this particularly vulnerable patient population."

Approximately 11,500 Medicare beneficiaries with end state renal disease are eligible to purchase supplemental coverage policies under the new law, according to Crist's office. An estimated 2,000 beneficiaries had no secondary insurance. Florida became the 29th state to offer Medigap policies to Medicare-eligible individuals with ESRD who are under 65.

The legislation has a six-month enrollment period.

(By Sean P. Carr, Washington Correspondent: [email protected])