Florida
Florida Judge Rules on KidCare Expansion, Impacting Local Families
A state judge has refused to order Florida health care officials to implement a 2023 law that would allow as many as 68,000 uninsured children to access subsidized health insurance coverage through the Florida KidCare program. Circuit Court Judge Joshua…
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Key points
- A judge has ruled against enforcing a new law to expand Florida KidCare access for uninsured children.
- Families must pursue claims through state administrative courts before legal action can be taken.
- The state has faced criticism for dropping thousands of children from the KidCare program due to premium nonpayment.
NewsWK — A recent ruling by Circuit Court Judge Joshua Hawkes in Tallahassee has significant implications for uninsured children in Florida, including many in the Pensacola area. The judge declined to mandate state health officials to implement a 2023 law designed to expand access to the Florida KidCare program, which aims to provide subsidized health insurance to approximately 68,000 children.
Governor Ron DeSantis approved the legislation, which was supported by Republican leaders, to help working families afford health care. However, the judge’s ruling requires that families must first pursue their claims through a state administrative court before proceeding with legal action. “While Petitioners may regard that decision as unfair, the Court does not find that they are without remedy,” Judge Hawkes stated in his ruling.
The lawsuit was initiated by three Florida families, supported by Florida Health Justice and the National Health Law Program, against Florida Healthy Kids and the Agency for Health Care Administration. The judge noted that the Florida Healthy Kids Corp. could not be sued for failing to provide health services.
Florida KidCare is the state’s version of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and serves children aged 5-18 whose families earn too much for traditional Medicaid. Enrollees who qualify for a subsidized plan are required to pay monthly premiums, which are typically $15 or $20 per household.
Under the proposed law, families of three could earn up to $81,960, or 300% of the federal poverty level, to qualify for coverage. Currently, families lose eligibility once their income exceeds 200% of the poverty level, amounting to $54,640 for a three-person household.
The ruling highlights ongoing tensions regarding children’s health insurance in Florida, especially as the state has faced criticism for removing over 43,000 children from the program in a single year due to nonpayment of premiums. As discussions continue, families in our area remain concerned about the future of health coverage for their children.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting by Christine Sexton originally published by Florida Phoenix. Read the original story.
