Bill > S0440

This bill renames the Florida Health Choices Program to the Florida Employee Health Choices Program, establishing a centralized marketplace for employees to purchase individual health insurance through individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). The program aims to expand affordable health insurance access by creating a platform where employers can provide health care contributions directly to employees, who can then choose their own health plans based on individual financial needs and health factors. The bill restructures the program's governance by creating Florida Employee Health Choices, Inc., a corporation governed by an eight-member board of directors appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, with the Secretary of Management Services serving as an ex officio nonvoting member. The corporation will be responsible for developing an online platform to streamline individual health insurance purchases, establishing enrollment procedures, recruiting vendors, and promoting public awareness of the program. Key changes include simplifying vendor participation requirements, removing previous risk pooling mechanisms, and reducing the board size from 15 to 8 members. The bill specifies that the program will become operational by January 1, 2028, with the Department of Management Services providing administrative support until January 1, 2029. The legislation also makes conforming changes to several related statutes to align with the new program structure and aims to provide more flexible, individualized health insurance options for employees.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/440