GENERAL QUESTIONS
Must I be a member of The Florida Bar, to apply for, and participate in the insurance & retirement programs?
Participation in the programs requires an active membership in The Florida Bar. Member’s spouses, Florida Registered Paralegals, and member’s staff are also eligible to participate in most plans.
Can I make my premium payment online?
Yes. View payment options.
Why should I participate in these programs?
The Member Group plans allow individual members of The Florida Bar the opportunity to purchase insurance at group rates with benefits tailored exclusively for attorneys needs. These plans offer benefits and group rates that are not always obtainable for an individual in the open marketplace. Many of the Individual/Specialty programs offer premium discounts, unique added value services, and underwriting concessions as a result of The Florida Bar’s sponsorship.
Can my employees participate in these plans?
Many of the plans for members are also available to your employees. The member group plans work very effectively as an employer paid or even voluntary employee benefit for your firm. Plans that are voluntary allow you and your employees to enroll without minimum participation requirements, which would typically be required in order to offer a group plan as an employee benefit. The group plans work great as a benefit to offer your employees group-style benefits and group rated plans on a voluntary basis.
Most plans can be billed directly to your employee as an individual or can be billed to the firm. List billing is also available for firms when enrolling multiple employees in the plans.
PRIVATE HEALTH EXCHANGE
What is different about the insurance plans in the private exchange versus the public exchange (aka Federally Facilitated Exchange or Health Insurance Marketplace)?
Most health insurance plans available on the public exchange (known as Qualified Health Plans) will also be available, at the same rates, through the private exchange. The private exchange has additional plans that will not be available through the public exchange. This is because some insurance providers have chosen to limit the number of plans they offer on the public exchange or have chosen not to participate in the public exchange. Both the public and private exchange will have dental plans available. Plans available on the private exchange that will not be available on the public exchange include vision, term life, disability, AD&D, wellness, and additional supplemental products and services.
What is The Florida Bar Private Health Insurance Exchange?
The exchange is an online marketplace where members, and their employees, can compare and purchase products and services from insurance providers that compete for business within the exchange.
What about the subsidies I keep hearing about to help me pay for my health insurance?
As part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), beginning in October 2013, lower and middle-income people under age 65, who are not eligible for coverage through their employer, Medicaid, or Medicare, can apply for tax credit subsidies available through the public exchange. Our online calculator, within the private exchange, will help you estimate if you potentially qualify for a tax-credit. If you do, our enrollment counselors are available to assist and guide you through the tax-credit application and for coverage on the public exchange.
Can I be turned down for health insurance coverage in the private exchange due to a pre-existing health condition?
Beginning with new coverage effective dates of January 1, 2014, most health insurance plans can’t refuse to cover you or charge you a higher premium because of a pre-existing health condition. This will be the case regardless of whether you purchase your plan on the public or private exchange.
Do small employers have to pay a penalty for not offering group insurance to employees?
No. Under the Affordable Care Act, businesses with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees are not required to provide health insurance to their employees. And, those employers will not face tax penalties if they decide not to offer their employees group health insurance. An alternative concept to offering group insurance is for small employers to offer their employees additional pay to assist them in purchasing coverage on the public or private exchange.