Commissioner Martinez announced the launch of Miami-Dade Blue last month. The unique pilot health care program, co-designed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. (BCBSF) and the Office of Countywide Healthcare Planning (OCHP) under the commissioner’s leadership, will give residents and small business owners the opportunity to purchase health insurance with affordable monthly payments. Coverage will begin July 1, 2009. Miami-Dade Blue, a low-cost comprehensive health care plan, will allow the County’s more than 600,000 uninsured residents struggling with the high cost of medical insurance to have an affordable health plan option. Additionally, small businesses of up to 50 employees are eligible for the plan at a reasonable rate under the new plan. The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners originally adopted Commissioner Martinez’s resolution for this program in May of last year.

Currently, Miami-Dade Blue is a locally-focused PPO plan that makes quality health coverage more affordable because of the select network of providers that have agreed to participate in the program. The individual plans are medically underwritten, and based on age and gender, have costs ranging from $70 to $300 per month; small group plans are guaranteed issue. Plans provide a comprehensive range of services including office visits, surgery, hospitalization, outpatient surgery, pharmacy and dental coverage. Miami-Dade Blue offers access to more than 1,500 physicians and seven hospitals across all areas of the county in addition to a network of clinics, pharmacies and other facilities. Providers will only be available in Miami-Dade County; however, the plan is an added convenience for the many in South Florida who cross county lines between home and work. It is available with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

“The astronomical cost of health care is an issue that has provided challenges for many presidential administrations,” said Commissioner Martinez. “I plan to present Miami-Dade Blue as a potential option for the Obama administration to consider when planning their health care policies. Miami-Dade Blue can truly reach beyond Miami-Dade County to bring affordable health insurance to the rest of the nation.”

Commissioner Martinez will be meeting with Congress members Kendrick Meek and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; Paul Dioguardi and Lee Stevens of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Alaina Beverly, White House Associate Director of Urban Affairs; Paul Beddoe of the National Association of Counties (NACo); and representatives of the Los Angeles County Intergovernmental Affairs office.

For more information, please contact the district office at 305-552-1155.