FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                         CONTACT:  Jonathan Burns

November 3, 2004                                           850-922-5871

Agency Receives Results of 2004 Florida Health Insurance Study

~New data will help focus Florida's approach to reaching uninsured, underscores success of current efforts~

Tallahassee, FL - The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) today announced it has received the results of the 2004 Florida Health Insurance Study.  The study validates the success of Florida's current efforts to help protect the state's most vulnerable citizens and provides data policymakers will reference in addressing some troubling health care trends.  Last conducted in 1999, the study released today highlights a trend of increasing uninsurance rates for many Floridians.

            "The results of this new study will be of tremendous value to the Governor, the Legislature, and AHCA as we continue working to improve access and affordability of health care for all Floridians," said Secretary Alan Levine.  "While rising uninsurance rates come as little surprise, the data in this study will help direct our attention to Floridians who need the most help."

The study finds a rise in uninsurance rates among middle-income and working age Floridians, but notes a decrease in uninsurance rates for children and smaller increases of uninsurance among Floridians over age 55.  Among Florida children age 0-4, the rate of uninsurance fell from 11.9 percent in 1999 to 8.1 percent in 2004--a 32 percent decrease, and uninsurance rates among the lowest income Floridians also dropped or held steady.

"The decrease in uninsurance rates among Florida's poor, elderly and children buck the trend of rising uninsurance rates among other Floridians and reflect Governor Bush and the Legislature's strong commitment to helping our state's most vulnerable, " added Secretary Levine.  "Efforts like the Governor's Task Force on Access to Affordable Health Insurance and a huge financial commitment to Florida Healthy Kids have not only led to decreased rates of uninsurance, they have allowed policy-makers at all levels to gain an understanding of this serious challenge."

Dr. R. Paul Duncan, Chair of the University of Florida's Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, led the 2004 Florida Health Insurance Study. The study was conducted via telephone with more than 46,000 Floridians.  The study groups results by criteria such as geographic area, ethnicity and family income.  Like many other statewide health insurance surveys, the 2004 Florida Health Insurance Study concentrates on Floridians under the age of 65, since virtually all American seniors have some health insurance through Medicare.

Working to improve access to affordable, quality health care to all Floridians, the state Agency for Health Care Administration administers Florida's $14 billion Medicaid program, licenses and regulates more than 32,000 health care facilities and 28 health maintenance organizations, and publishes health care data and statistics.

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