Florida Blue to offer Lyft rides to some ACA members

Starting early next year, some Florida Blue members with an Affordable Care Act plan will be able to take free Lyft rides to their doctor visits, the insurance company announced on Friday, the first day of ACA open enrollment.

“We want to support our members and help ensure that a lack of transportation is not a barrier to getting the care they need,” said Chuck Divita, executive vice president of commercial markets for Florida Blue, in a news release.

Not all Florida Blue ACA members will qualify for the free rides. The company has a process in place in which providers identify patients who need transportation. Those patients will be given a code for free Lyft rides to their future doctor appointment.

Florida Blue is the largest ACA insurer in the state, with more than 1 million members.

More insurance companies are participating in the health insurance marketplace -- also called the exchange -- this year than they did last year. And the premiums are expected to decrease slightly or stay the same for any.

In Central Florida, the newcomer in the marketplace is Bright Health Insurance, which will be available in several counties, including Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole.

The company has partnered with AdventHealth giving plan members access to about 3,000 providers, the company said in a news release.

If you’re happy with your current plan, it’s still important to look at your options to make sure nothing has changed.

Florida led the nation with nearly 1.8 million people getting coverage via the ACA marketplace last year.

nmiller@orlandosentinel.com.

If you need help with ACA enrollment:

___

(c)2019 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)

Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.