We are happy to report that the Florida legislature has passed new legislation that is going to expand eligibility for Florida KidCare. The bill passed
both the House and Senate, and is currently waiting on the Governor’s signature.
What is Florida KidCare? What is the expansion?
Florida KidCare is the Florida version of CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). It’s a national program, but each state runs it with its own set of rules and guidelines.
Currently, families that earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for Florida KidCare subsidized health plans. (Families that make more can opt for full pay plans at $210 or $259 per child). The subsidized plans cost only $15 or $20 a month and cover all children in the family ag
es 1 through 18. There are no deductibles, and very minimal copays of just $5 to $10.
Starting Jan 1st, 2024, the state will raise the income threshold so that families making up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for the subsidized plans. However, it is still undecided how much the plans will cost per month. While currently the plans are $15 and $20, starting January 1st there will be more tiers added for higher incomes. So, while we don’t know yet the exact price of the plan, nonetheless, this is great news for all Florida families.
Now let’s run some numbers.
The federal poverty level for a family of six is $42,080. Under the current law, if a family earns up $88,160, they are eligible. Under the new law, they will be eligible as long as they earn less than $126,240. As you can see, that’s a very significant expansion!
Below is a chart of the federal poverty level. For 200% of the poverty level, multiply by two; for 300% multiply by three.
