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Florida Medicaid Eligibility

Florida Medicaid provides health insurance for people with low incomes. It covers things such as visits to doctors; emergency room treatment and inpatient medical care; outpatient tests and treatment; prescription medications; and mental health care. Not everyone who needs help paying for medical care qualifies for Florida Medicaid, though; recipients must meet specific eligibility criteria.

  1. Eligible Groups

    • Eligible groups include children, families with children, elderly people, disabled people and pregnant women. In general, Medicaid recipients must be U.S. citizens, but noncitizens with medical emergencies may also qualify for assistance in Florida. Applicants must demonstrate that they qualify by providing the necessary documentation, such as proof of citizenship, age, disability or pregnancy.

    Income Guidelines

    • Florida residents must meet specific income guidelines and also have limited resources, such as savings, to qualify for Medicaid. The Florida Department of Children and Families considers family size, the ages of any child applicants and the eligibility group into which applicants fall when determining if applicants meet income guidelines (see Resources). Because the guidelines are rather complicated, the easiest way to find out if you qualify for Medicaid is to simply apply.

    Determining Eligibility

    • The Florida Department of Children and Families determines eligibility for most Medicaid applicants. Applicants must provide documentation to verify how much they earn and how much money they have in savings, if any. People who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify for Medicaid.

    Applying for Medicaid

    • If you receive Supplemental Security Income, you don't need to apply for Medicaid --- you automatically qualify. Contact the Department of Children and Families at 866-762-2237, or contact your local Social Security Administration office if you have questions. If you need to apply for Florida Medicaid, you can apply online (see Resources) or visit your local Department of Children and Families office (see Resources) to pick up an application.

    If You Don't Qualify

    • If you don't qualify for Medicaid, you might be eligible for other sources of assistance. Different programs have different eligibility criteria. You might qualify for programs such as Florida KidCare, Cover Florida Health Care or the Florida Discount Drug Card. Your local Florida Department of Children and Families office can give you more information about other possible sources of assistance.

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