Federal rules apply in Florida as everywhere. Florida law adds a continuation rule for small employers’ health plans and sets limits on local rules.
Continued health coverage for small employers
Federal COBRA generally covers employers with 20 or more employees. For smaller employers, Florida has the Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act. A group health plan issued to a small employer, one with fewer than 20 employees, must let qualified beneficiaries who would lose coverage after certain events choose to continue it.
Local rules
Florida law generally stops cities, counties and other local governments from requiring employers to provide benefits beyond what state or federal law requires. The law names health benefits and sick leave among those benefits.
Questions to bring to your advisor
- If we offer a group plan, how does Florida continuation coverage work with it?
- Do we have employees in other states with their own rules?
- What could we offer now, before any federal rule applies to us?
