With Congress poised to take up major health reform this summer, Florida's insurance agents are feeling nervous about the possible outcome. It is not that Florida health insurance agents do not see a need for major reform to control costs and provide coverage to the 46 million uninsured Americans, including four million in Florida. But agents are worried the federal government will stretch its arms fully around the health insurance market, stifling competition and confusing consumers.

"I'm absolutely worried about the government running the health insurance system and worried about anything that pushes insurance agents out of the loop," said Lillian Cohen, an agent with Rogers Benefit Group in Palm Beach Gardens.

Agents in Florida say they have good reason to be skeptical. They point to other government attempts to reform the health system that left agents out of the mix. For example, the state's new Cover Florida program for the uninsured gave agents little incentive to get involved because of extremely low commissions. The Cover Florida program, which Gov. Charlie Crist touted as a major savior for the uninsured, has been a bust since it was launched in January, with fewer than 2,500 of the state's four million uninsured signing up.