The gift of health care

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Give the gift of health care. Now you can grab a gift card just like you would for a popular store or restaurant. It's not your typical gift card you're used to giving. These help cover the cost of health care.

"I think it's a great idea if it's going to someone who can't afford insurance," said Dottie Clendenin of Orlando.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida is now selling gift cards. Sounds good to those who know people who are uninsured or under insured.

Starting this month you can find these gift cards at any Winn Dixie and in November you can find them at CVS pharmacy stores.

There are two types of gift cards available. One is called "the blue health care card" It acts like a temporary health insurance. For $59.00 it gives you health insurance coverage for one to 2 1/2 months based on your age. Here's how it works. You buy the gift card at the store, and the person receiving the card activates it. Then they enroll in a variety of plans offered. After that, you'll receive a package in the mail with a member id card.

You can use the temporary insurance gift card to see a doctor, a dentist, at the pharmacy, or for lab work.

The other gift card is called the family blue discount card. It's $19.00 but unlike temporary insurance, this one gets you 3 months worth of discounts on dental, prescriptions and vision services.

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On the web:

http://www.bcbsfl.com/