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When consultants for WellFlorida recently assessed the health of Marion County, what they found was disturbing. By almost every measure — from obesity and smoking rates to access to nutritional food and life expectancy — our community ranked below, in some cases well below, the state average. In short, the overall health of Marion County residents is in critical condition.

Good news. Our community not only has a chance to deliver some immediate help and hope but also to change the entire […]

Suwannee Democrat
By Paula Thompson

Florida Department of Health in Hamilton County’s Mark Lander presented the department’s annual report for the 2014-15 year at a Sept. 15 county commission meeting.

The Florida Department of Health in Hamilton County provides services to residents and visitors of the community in a number of programs, according to the report. The department’s mission is to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts, it was noted.

During […]

Special to the Gainesville Sun

Insurance rates for children enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids Full Pay insurance plan are going to almost double on Oct. 1. In response, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Obamacare, is extending its special enrollment period to allow families impacted by the rate increase to enroll in health insurance on Healthcare.gov.

The Florida Healthy Kids Health Insurance Program is a program that offers low-cost health insurance for children ages 5-18 who are not eligible for Medicaid. There is premium assistance […]

Cedar Key News

Insurance rates for children enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids Full Pay insurance plan are going to almost double on Oct. 1, 2015.

In response, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or “Obamacare,” is extending its Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to allow families impacted by the rate increase to enroll in health insurance on Healthcare.gov.

The Florida Healthy Kids Health Insurance Program is a program that offers low-cost health insurance for children ages 5-18 who are not eligible for Medicaid. Insurance can be as little as $15 […]

The Gainesville Sun
By Christopher Curry

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare has received a federal grant to establish an Affordable Care Act navigator program.

Meridian will receive received $549,800 annually — and up to about $1.65 million over a three-year grant cycle — to hire navigators to help clients of the mental health and substance abuse counseling organization and members of the community at large sign up for health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

In a press release, Meridian President and Chief Executive Officer Maggie Labarta said the […]

Ocala Star Banner
By Christopher Curry

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services this week awarded nearly $10 million in annual federal taxpayer-funded grants for “navigator” programs throughout Florida. The programs are designed to help citizens with the upcoming third year of Affordable Care Act enrollment.

The organizations are slated to receive grant funding for three years. The largest grant in the state, more than $5.9 million, went to the University of South Florida’s Florida Covering Kids and Families program. USF then contracts with organizations throughout […]