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The Need for an Affordable Alternative The absence of an affordable alternative medical plan product is highlighted by the growing number of Floridians who over the last decade are unable to afford health care coverage of any kind. This need for affordable health care coverage is not only in the population at large but is also present in the workplace where employees are no longer covered by their employers, or where employees have never been covered due to the high cost of such coverage. In addition, in many areas dependents are no longer covered due to the high cost. This growing number of working uninsured is found in the private small employer sector, the large employer sector where many part-time employees are uninsured, and in the public sector where dependent coverage may no longer be affordable for the government entity. The need for these individuals to receive health care coverage to prevent a more serious illness is just now being recognized as a looming crisis in health care, see Chart below. Percent of Floridians Delaying or Not Obtaining Needed Medical Care Within the Last 12 Months Because They Could Not Afford It, by Insurance Status, 2004 20.0% 0.0% 40.0% Insured Uninsured The lack of an option as an affordable alternative was further recognized by the Florida Health Insurance Study, commissioned by the State of Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and conducted by the University of Florida in 2004. It revealed that more than 2.8 million people, or about 19.2 percent of the state's population, did not have health insurance, this grew from 16.8% in 1999. In the Study, Miami-Dade County was identified as having the highest rate of uninsured in the state at 28.7%. Statewide ofthose working, 32% of self-employed lacked insurance, while 36.3% of those working full-time for small employers with 4 or fewer employees lacked coverage. 2006 CAHP Overview 3 5-06 Emp w-o-h