Florida
Florida’s population in 2013 totaled 19,552,860, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About 51% of this figure comprised of female individuals. Older adults 65 years of age and above numbered at 18.7% of the population, which is more than 4% higher than the percentage for the whole country. Many senior citizens choose to retire and age in place in Florida due to the state’s sunny climate.
The air quality in Florida can be described as between good and moderate, with some areas having pollutants that can affect people with extreme sensitivity to air pollution.
Smokers accounted for 17.7% of Florida’s residents in 2012, according to Trust for America’s Health. In addition, 590,000 senior citizens are expected to live with Alzheimer’s in 2025. The state recorded around 118,000 new cases of cancer, which is another serious medical condition, in 2013. Cancer is nearly tied with heart disease as the leading causes of mortality in 2012, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Florida has 3,042 licensed assisted living facilities and 682 nursing facilities. Across the U.S., it has one of the lowest ratios between total senior citizen population and number of nursing facility residents.
Cost of Care
Below are the average daily cost* of long-term care services in Florida.
| City | Nursing Facility1 | Assisted Living1 | Adult Day Care2 | Home Health Aide3 |
| Fort Myers | $257 | $132 | $66 | $120 |
| Jacksonville | $236 | $102 | $60 | $120 |
| Miami | $320 | $72 | $52 | $102 |
| Orlando | $257 | $183 | $64 | $114 |
| Panama City | $236 | $104 | N/A | $114 |
| Pensacola | $216 | $96 | N/A | $132 |
| Tallahassee | $241 | $128 | $48 | $108 |
Notes:
*Costs are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
1Daily average for a private room.
2Based on five days of care per week.
3Based on six hours of care per day, five days per week.
Insurance Options
On September 1, 2012, Mutual of Omaha oversaw adjustments in the inflation rider rates of two of its long-term care insurance products: Mutual Care® Plus and United LTCi Solutions. The adjustments applied to new business clients in Florida, as these changes began in other states on February 1, 2012.
John Hancock began selling its Custom Care III long-term care insurance policy to residents of Florida on January 28, 2013. Custom Care III can be attractive to interested policyholders due to its Benefit Builder, a more affordable choice than the traditional LTCI inflation options. The Benefit Builder also comes with automatic crediting for payment growth and voluntary buy-up options for flexibility. In Florida, John Hancock also updated application worksheets, which became ready on January 6, 2014.
Other insurers that offer LTCI coverage include Genworth, Massachusetts Mutual, New York Life, Northwestern, Riversource, and Transamerica.
State Long-Term Care Programs
Individuals with long-term care needs can benefit from coverage by the Medicare program. Part A pays for skilled nursing facility care and home health care, while Part B helps with getting some care services. Part D covers medications as prescribed by doctors.
Medicaid can help seniors and individuals with disabilities through an affiliate program called MEDS for Aged and Disabled (MEDS-AD). Those who lack Medicare Part A or Part B coverage qualify as beneficiaries, provided they meet the financial resource limits.
Florida did not join the move by other states to expand Medicaid coverage in 2014. The federally-facilitated Marketplace manages Medicaid enrollments in the state. Florida proposed to administer LTC services under Medicaid through a managed care system, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ratified in February 2013.
Free consultation involving Medicare and Medicaid concerns is available from adept volunteers who serve under the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program.
More Resources
To get more specific information regarding long-term care services and insurance options in Florida, please check the following websites:
Agency for Health Care Administration
Provides a brochure containing a wide range of topics and resource links regarding long-term care.
Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc.
Gives helpful LTC information and glossary, along with resources about caregiving, disasters, etc.
Offers comprehensive information, publications, and resources that are related to long-term care.
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