About Florida Health Insurance for Kids

Health coverage is a high cost that some families are forced to stop paying due to economic circumstances. The state of Florida strives to ensure all children are covered by providing low-cost health coverage for qualifying families. This program is better known as Florida KidCare.

Types

• Florida KidCare offers four plans: Children's Medical Services Network, Healthy Kids, Medicaid and MediKids. The Children's Medical Services Network is designed for kids up to 18 years of age who have special needs. Healthy Kids is for children ages 5 to 18, while Medicaid covers children of all ages. MediKids is for children ages 1 to 4.

Extent of Coverage

• Florida KidCare covers children's wellness visits. At such visits, children receive a growth assessment, health assessment, physical exam and needed immunizations or tests. These wellness checks are recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics once a year for children and more frequently for infants and toddlers. Florida KidCare also covers emergency room visits, mental health costs as well as hearing and vision costs.

Eligibility

• Your family household income must be considered at the poverty level in order to qualify for any of these plans. A child must also be uninsured, a U.S. citizen (or qualified non-citizen) and under 19. Families who are not eligible by income may be able to buy a plan at a premium rate.