The Florida Legislature passed a law that is helping many immigrant children who lawfully reside (PDF) in Florida obtain health insurance coverage. Prior to this change, some non-citizen children living in Florida had to be lawfully in the United States at least five years before they qualified for health insurance through the Florida KidCare program. Since the law went into effect on July 1, 2016, there is no longer a waiting period for these children.
Most children who were previously denied subsidized Florida KidCare coverage because of the five-year waiting period needed to reapply after July 1, 2016 by calling 1-888-540-5437 to update their information. Children whose applications were submitted on or after June 1, 2016 were automatically reevaluated based on the new law — and Florida KidCare reached out to, and continues to reach out to, families with children who were likely to be eligible.
Some children who were previously denied because of the five-year rule may be currently enrolled in a health plan through www.healthcare.gov. Their families can begin a transfer to Florida KidCare by updating their information with the federal marketplace by visiting www.healthcare.gov or calling 1-800-318-2596. Applications will not be transferred automatically during the next federal marketplace open enrollment period that began on November 1, 2016.
If a child is enrolled through employer-based or other private coverage, they can apply at any time, however, Florida KidCare coverage will not begin until the other coverage has ended.
For more information about the new legislation, please visit https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/5101.
| No Change | 5-Year Wait Eliminated | Newly Eligible |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Newly Eligible - Applicant
Newly Eligible - Employment Authorization Required
|
Note: Column two titled “5-Year Wait Eliminated” are immigration statuses that were considered “Qualified” prior to July 1, 2016, but were subject to a waiting period. Column three titled “Newly Eligible” are groups of immigration statuses that are now potentially eligible beginning July 1, 2016, but were deemed “Non-Qualified” prior to that date regardless of length of stay in the country.
1. Who does this law apply to?
Non-citizen children, up to their 19th birthday, who reside in Florida, meet the Florida
KidCare income guidelines, and have the necessary documentation to prove they are lawfully present
in the United States.
2. My child is enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids or MediKids full-pay program but I think
he/she may now be eligible for reduced-cost coverage. What should I do?
Currently enrolled full-pay children that become eligible for subsidized coverage because of
this new legislation will be automatically changed to lower cost coverage effective July 1 and sent
a letter. If you have not received a letter by July, but believe your child may be eligible for
subsidized coverage, you may contact 1-888-540-KIDS (5437) to find out if your child now qualifies.
3. My child was denied because of the five-year rule. What should I do to find out if he/she
qualifies now?
Please call 1-888-540-5437 to update your information and find out if your child is now
eligible.
4. How may a child who is covered through the federal marketplace, www.healthcare.gov switch to Florida
KidCare?
In order to transfer a child to Florida KidCare, families must update their information with
the federal marketplace and receive a new eligibility assessment. Applications will not be
transferred automatically during the next federal marketplace open enrollment period that begins on
November 1, 2016. Families can visit www.healthcare.gov or
call 1-800-318-2596 at any time to update their information.
5. How may a child who is covered through employer-based or private coverage switch to
Florida KidCare?
If a child is enrolled through employer-based or other private coverage, they can apply at any
time, however, Florida KidCare coverage will not begin until the other coverage has ended.
