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Insurance for Kids in Florida

The Florida Department of Health administers the KidCare program. KidCare includes four health care plans for children up to 19 years of age. Plans include coverage for children from low-income households and kids with working parents. Candidates can apply for insurance online at the KidCare website or download an application on the site for submission by mail. Applicants only need to submit one application. KidCare administrators determine eligibility and which plan best fits a child's medical needs.

  1. Medicaid

    • Medicaid, a joint federal and state program, provides medical coverage for low-income families and individuals. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) determines eligibility, which it bases on household income. The Medicaid for Children Only plan provides coverage for children up to 19 years of age, from households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Income limits vary, depending on the age of a child. Children who have Medicaid coverage can also receive benefits from the Child Health Check-up Program, which provides immunizations, dental screenings, and health exams. Applicants must have a Social Security number, hold U.S. citizenship or qualify as a non-citizen, and live with a parent or adult guardian. Medicaid does not extend eligibility to children already covered by another insurance policy.

    Children's Medical Services Network

    • Children's Medical Services (CMS) Network provides services for children with special medical needs through a collection of health care programs. The system includes more than 5,000 hospitals, doctors and university medical facilities that administer services. Benefits include health services for adolescents, school-aged kids, toddlers, infants and newborns. The program works with doctors and social workers to address issues such as physical conditions, neglect or abuse, newborn health screening and behavioral conditions.

    MediKids

    • The MediKids plan provides health care coverage for children from 1 to 4 years old. The program includes the majority of benefits found in the Medicaid program, and children receive medical treatment from Medicaid service providers. MediKids determines premiums based on household income. The majority of families pay between $15 and $20 per month per household, as of December 2010. Families that exceed income limits can still apply for the program and pay a full monthly premium of $159 per child. MediKids uses primary care providers (PCP), who serve as the main health care administrators and make referrals to specialists when needed. Participant benefits include hospital services, doctor visits, laboratory services, dental care and mental health services.

    Healthy Kids

    • Healthy Kids provides benefits for children ages 5 to 18. The plan bases monthly premiums on household income, and the majority of families pay $15 to $20 per month. Families that exceed income limits can still enroll in the program and pay full premiums, typically ranging from $121 to $133 per month. Children eligible for Children's Medical Services Network or Medicaid cannot qualify for Healthy Kids coverage. Private insurance providers offer Healthy Kids coverage, including Vista Health Plan, United Healthcare Plan of Florida, Amerigroup and HealthEase. Providers and benefits can vary, depending on a participant's county of residency.

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