Gov. DeSantis signs law allowing expansion of questionable health insurance policies

A new law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed this week will likely expand the use of short-term, limited-coverage health insurance policies that may not cover pre-existing medical conditions.

The policies have been criticized because of the way some insurance companies aggressively market the coverage, with consumers often not fully understanding the limited plans.

As the Phoenix previously reported, the short-term policies have drawn controversy because the coverage is not as comprehensive as policies under the federal Affordable Health Care Act.

Sen. Wilton Simpson, the Pasco County Republican who sponsored the legislation, said it is designed to provide Floridians more affordable choices for their health-care coverage.

Besides not covering pre-existing conditions, the policies are likely to have a host of other loopholes, including limited or no coverage for mental-health services, prescription drugs or maternity care.

The new law does require insurance companies to offer at least one policy that covers pre-existing conditions if the federal health-care act is repealed or if the courts overturn it.