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State House members in Florida have passed a bill that would require all health insurance policies sold in the state to cover treatment for schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorders, bipolar disorder, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and major depression.
Also, bare-bones health insurance will be made available to those who otherwise couldn't afford one, that wouldn't cover all illnesses, but also wouldn't cost as much. For example, it will not cover costly treatments such as screenings for certain diseases, or transplants.
The measures will help the four million Floridians who are not insured to have access to cheaper insurance policies. However, Democrats blasted the new plan as offering only the illusion of coverage, with one calling it "non-insurance insurance."
"We create regulations for healthcare because it's one of those things that's important to people — we want to make sure they're not getting ripped off," House Minority Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach said to the Palm Beach Post.
Gov. Charlie Crist thus managed to push his plan for a $150 a month insurance, which covers the minimum necessities, a far cry from the current at least $600 per month paid by Floridians. The current prices are high because state law requires insurers to offer 51 types of coverage.
"We're talking about people who have no insurance," Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Panama City said. "We're giving them options."
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