The Florida Senate has passed House Bill 121, which increases the income eligibility for the KidCare Program under the Mediakids program component.
Florida KidCare is a government-funded program that offers affordable health insurance for eligible children and adolescents up to age 19.
The bill was signed by the governor in June 2023 and immediately took effect July 1. Florida KidCare provides health insurance for families with an income that is too high to qualify for Medicaid.
Before lawmakers passed the bill, subsidized coverage was available to families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
The legislation has increased that threshold to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
This means that the families that barely did not make the 200 percent level or were no longer eligible because they went over the percentage can now be relieved that it increased, and they can now be eligible.
Kadee Ramirez, a mother, expressed how this bill benefits her family.
“The fact that I can now pay for my son to attend dayCare is amazing. At first, they told me I was not eligible to receive funding, but now I can afford it through the program,” Ramirez said.
“My husband and I barely can make the threshold percent because we were making too much, but with this program now making it affordable and upping their rate, I think this can help my family more than ever.”
According to health.wusf.usf.edu, Rep. Robin Bartleman and Rep. Dana Trabulsy, sponsors of the bill, gave their honest opinions.
“No parent should have to choose between taking a pay raise and providing health care for their children,” said Bartleman.
“HB 121 addresses this issue by providing a pathway out of poverty for families so that they can achieve economic self-sufficiency,” Trabulsy said.
House Bill 121 receives state and federal government funding to help needy families.
According to healthykids.org, Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, board chair of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, shared her thoughts on the bill.
“This bill is a huge win for Florida’s working families. It will allow parents to provide affordable health insurance for their children. We are so grateful for the leadership of Speaker Renner, who put this issue at the forefront, and to the members of the Legislature who made it happen,” Haridopolos said.
This shows that expanding Florida KidCare is crucial to ensuring that all children have access to the necessary healthcare services.
Also, by expanding the program, the state can improve the health of its youngest residents.
For more information about House Bill 121, visit the flsenate.gov website.