Florida Prepaid urges families to lock in college costs during March–April open enrollment

Anne Fontes of Florida Prepaid urged parents to act during the program’s March–April open enrollment window to “lock in tomorrow’s cost at today’s prices,” citing a starting plan price of "$29 a month" for newborns and the program’s state guarantee. The remarks came during an interview with Rick Sornson, superintendent of the Putnam County School District, on the Putnam Pulse podcast.

Florida Prepaid, Fontes said, can augment scholarships and other aid, cover housing through a dorm plan and offer a new one‑year university plan that can be stacked to provide flexibility for families. "If college costs more than the projection, Florida Prepaid pays the difference," she said; if costs are lower, families receive a refund.

The program offers multiple payment options — monthly plans, five‑year schedules, lump sums and, depending on the employer, payroll deduction — allowing families to automate savings. Fontes noted that tax treatment of payroll contributions depends on employer arrangements and advised listeners to check workplace policies.

Fontes described the program’s scale and longevity: "We have over 1.2 million families that have purchased prepaid plans," she said, and noted Florida Prepaid has operated for nearly 40 years. She also highlighted portability: plans are built for in‑state public institutions but can be used at trade schools, technical schools, out‑of‑state and private institutions with value differences at private schools.

The guest pointed listeners to a new gifting feature on the Florida Prepaid website that lets relatives contribute to a child’s plan, and discussed the practical possibility of directing contributions via estate planning. For families unsure where to start, she recommended the program’s online planning tool at myfloridaprepaid.com, where users can enter a child’s birthdate to view plan options.

Sornson and Fontes emphasized that while early saving provides a longer runway, plans remain useful even if purchased later in a child’s life, because the program either covers higher costs or refunds unused value. The podcast closed with a reminder that open enrollment runs in March and April and with directions to myfloridaprepaid.com for details and customer service contact information.

Open enrollment dates, pricing examples and enrollment totals were stated by Fontes during the interview; listeners seeking plan specifics were directed to Florida Prepaid’s official website.