Most Florida Families Will Now Be Eligible for Florida KidCare
Bottom Line: On Tuesday Governor DeSantis signed into law new policy which has the potential to meaningfully impact healthcare costs for most Florida families. The child healthcare program administered and subsidized by the state, Florida KidCare is immediately available for most Florida families. The expansion of the program was immediate upon DeSantis’ signing of the bill. The changes are the most significant in the history of the program since its inception, as Florida families of four earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level, or $83,250, will have access to the state-subsidized Florida KidCare healthcare program. The expansion raised the cap from the previous 200% threshold. With median household incomes in Florida currently sitting at $57,703...here's what the expansion may mean to you and your family.
In Florida here are the income thresholds for healthcare provided through the Florida KidCare program:
- Medicaid for children available for families of four with incomes of $39,900 or less
- MediKids CMS Health and Dental Insurance: $15 per month, per child, for a family of four with incomes up to $60,000
- MediKids CMS Health and Dental Insurance: $20 per month, per child, for a family of four with incomes of up to $83,250
Full pay plans (which are $210 per child per month) are also available for children with incomes over the thresholds. While most families will commonly use employer sponsored family plans, with the ever-rising cost of even employer sponsored plans it's likely that going forward many Floridia families, if not most, would stand to benefit financially by exploring these options for children which represent a significant cost savings over most traditional health insurance plans given the state’s subsidizing of it. The bottom line, if your income is within the levels I just laid out and you have kids – it's worth looking into. There’s the potential for thousands in savings per child per year.