A group of state agencies is encouraging parents who may be eligible for Floridas KidCare program to sign up ahead of the upcoming school year.
The Department of Children and Families, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Department of Health and the Department of Education embarked on their annual Back to School campaign to urge families to apply for the program.
Each of the state agency partners has a specific and important role to play in supporting Florida KidCare and (AHCA) is pleased to be one of those partners. Specifically, our 11 area offices play an important role in providing local assistance for KidCare Medicaid and MediKids providers and beneficiaries, said AHCA Secretary Liz Dudek.
The KidCare program provides health care services to 1.9 million children under 19 years old in the state, and families usually pay between $15 and $20 each month. The program's numbers have surged in recent years as families struggle to cope with the deep recession.
KidCare beneficiaries remained relatively level from 2004 to 2008, but the economic downturn led some families to seek state assistance for their childrens health care. From July 2008 to July 2011, the number of children covered by KidCare rose from 1.44 million to 1.95 million.
That increase, however, is largely due to the increase in Medicaid beneficiaries, because children receiving Medicaid benefits are included in the count. The number of monthly KidCare beneficiaries not eligible for Medicaid rose from 225,069 in July 2008 to 251,278 last month.
Households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level and children under the age of 19 are eligible for the KidCare program. The rising number of Medicaid beneficiaries (the 1.6 million children on Medicaid comprise more than half of the nearly 3 million beneficiaries statewide) and the associated costs led state lawmakers to overhaul the program this year. The plan to move Medicaid recipients into managed-care plans is awaiting federal approval.
Meanwhile, state agencies are touting the health and education benefits of the program.
The (AWI) works with millions of Floridians each year, and promoting the health and well-being of children and families is a natural extension of our work. AWI is proud to assist with KidCares outreach efforts by helping to ensure our Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten and School Readiness families receive information and applications for this vital health-care resource, said Matt Guse, acting director for AWIs Office of Early Learning.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater also pushed the program as a way to help parents in harsh economic times.
Today we are here to talk about KidCare, and spread the word to parents and caregivers that regardless of income, KidCare is there to help make sure your children and students are healthy and safe, Atwater said.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
