JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Employees at Florida Blue, the largest health insurance provider in Jacksonville, spoke out Friday about the company’s decision to lay off hundreds of workers.
A spokesperson confirmed with News4JAX that the cuts are part of broader efforts by its parent company, GuideWell, to address challenges in the healthcare industry.
An employee who asked to remain anonymous told News4JAX this is the second wave of layoffs, following cuts in November. The source said the latest reductions were carried out without an official announcement.
Florida Blue’s parent company, GuideWell, has reduced its workforce by 3% nationwide. The company released a statement saying:
“GuideWell is committed to providing access to quality health care as affordably as possible for its customers. Navigating the current industry climate requires making thoughtful decisions, including the action we took this week to streamline our organization and reduce our total workforce by approximately 3%. The health care industry is facing complex challenges, including competitive market conditions, regulatory changes, and rising medical costs.”
The anonymous employee shared that layoffs occurred across various departments, leaving workers shocked and uneasy.
“People were pulled into meetings with HR and their direct leaders. There was no warning. They were just here one day and gone a few hours later,” the employee said.
The employee also revealed that Florida Blue tried to make budget adjustments over the past six months, starting by cutting contractors, but the efforts were not enough to avoid impacting full-time staff.
The mood at Florida Blue has been grim, according to the source.
“Things have been somber and just kind of scary. To be honest, this is the second round. It’s much bigger. In November.”
Florida Blue serves more than six million members across all 67 Florida counties and remains the state’s leading health insurance provider.