Miami-Dade County, Fla.'s Board of County Commissioners has approved a pilot program that aims to offer affordable health insurance to residents and businesses. The Miami-Dade Blue health plan, which is still pending approval by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in Tallahassee, will focus on the 600,000 county residents under the age of 65 who cannot afford private health insurance and who do not qualify for other public programs, such as Medicaid and KidCare.

Co-designed by Jacksonville, Fla.-based BlueCross BlueShield of Florida and the Office of Countywide Healthcare Planning, Miami-Dade Blue would cover a full range of treatments. It also would employ chronic disease management and emergency room alternatives to increase healthcare efficiencies, lower the cost of charity care and improve health outcomes. Monthly premiums could start at $69 for a 19-year-old male, but the average premium is expected to be $110 for men and $122 for women.

Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees that have previously been unable to offer cost-effective health insurance would be targeted for group coverage under the new plan. "This is the first step in helping all of our residents receive basic and quality medical care they can afford," Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez said in a statement. "We can only achieve a happier and healthier community by making health insurance available to as many people as possible."

More information on the program is available at http://www.miamidade.gov/district11/releases/08-09-17_miami_dade_blue.asp.

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