Page 13

State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Phase 1 Effective Date: April 1, 1998

Revised: 1/26/98, 2/19/98, 3/3/98, 3/6/98 Phase 2 Effective Date: July 1, 1998

Revised: 8/20/98, 8/24/98, 10/1/99, 7/28/00, 1/31/01, 7/02/02, 7/22/02, 1/3/03, 2/13/04, 9/27/04, 11/15/04, 8/11/05, 10/1/06, 7/1/09, 7/1/10, 7/1/11, 7/1/12 12 Insurance Survey dated June 2002. The results show that approximately 15% of Florida’s children are currently uninsured. The figures varied by federal poverty level (FPL) and have increased in both the less than 100% FPL category and the greater than 200% FPL category. The Urban Institute and Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, based on estimates from the March 2002 and 2003 Current Population Surveys, determined that 16% of Florida’s children are currently uninsured. Florida KidCare Law The 1998 Legislature enacted the Florida KidCare Act, which dramatically enhances child health insurance options under Florida’s Title XXI child health insurance plan. Florida KidCare consists of the following components: • MediKids, a Medicaid “look-alike” program for children ages 1 to 5; • Healthy Kids for children ages 5 to 19; • The Children’s Medical Services Network (CMSN) for children ages 0 to 19 who have a special health care need; and • Medicaid for children under age 19. Except for Medicaid, financial eligibility for the Florida KidCare program is 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Except for Medicaid, the Florida KidCare program is not an entitlement and participants contribute to the cost of their monthly premiums. The KidCare law also provides for six months of continuous eligibility for coverage. The 2000 Florida Legislature authorized the following changes affecting the Title XXI Florida KidCare Program: • Funding for 102,000 additional children in KidCare • Mandatory Assignment for MediKids: This is a vehicle that is not intended to restrict enrollee choices. It is a measure to speed up the actual enrollment process by assuring a provider choice is made. • Medicaid Expansion for Children Under Age 1: This is an expanded Medicaid eligibility for children under the age of 1 to 200% of poverty. Medicaid covers children under age 1 up to 185% FPL, and the Medicaid expansion for children under Age 1 covers children from 185% FPL to 200% FPL. These children are not included in the MediKids program, as MediKids covers children ages one through four.