Florida KidCare is the state’s health insurance program for children from birth through age 18, and most families who qualify pay $20 or less per month to cover all their eligible kids. It fills the space between Medicaid and private insurance for families who earn too much for traditional Medicaid but can’t reasonably afford employer or marketplace coverage. One application screens your child for all four component programs and places them in the right one automatically.
Who Qualifies
Your child qualifies if they are under 19, live in Florida, and are either a U.S. citizen or hold a qualifying immigration status. There is no assets test, so savings, vehicles, and property don’t count against you. Eligibility turns on household size and gross annual income measured against the Federal Poverty Level.1Florida House of Representatives. Florida Code 409.814 – Eligibility
Subsidized coverage runs up to 200% of the FPL. In 2026 dollars, that ceiling is roughly $43,280 for a family of two, $54,640 for a family of three, $66,000 for a family of four, and $77,360 for a family of five.2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – Detailed Tables Families above the subsidy limit can still enroll at the full-pay rate.
Non-citizen children can qualify if they hold certain statuses: refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, certified trafficking victims, and lawful permanent residents who either previously held refugee or asylee status or have held their green card for at least five years.3Florida Department of Children and Families. Immigration Issues Regarding Florida KidCare Undocumented children are not eligible.
What It Costs
Premiums are the strongest thing about the program. Many families pay nothing, and the subsidized rates are household rates, not per-child, so multiple kids don’t multiply the bill.4Florida KidCare. Florida KidCare – Cost
- Medicaid component: $0 per month.
- Household income between 133% and 158% of FPL: $15 per month for all eligible children.
- Household income between 158% and 200% of FPL: $20 per month for all eligible children.
- Full-pay, above the subsidy limit: $248.21 per month per child for MediKids, or $276 per month per child for Florida Healthy Kids with dental.5Florida KidCare. 2025 General Annual Income Guidelines
Some services carry a copay, but copays are capped at $10. There is no annual deductible on any KidCare plan.4Florida KidCare. Florida KidCare – Cost
The Four Programs Under the KidCare Umbrella
KidCare isn’t one plan. It’s four, and the application routes your child into the right one based on age, income, and health needs.6Online Sunshine. Florida Code 409.813 – Florida KidCare Program Components and General Provisions You don’t choose.
- Medicaid covers children from birth through 18 in the lowest-income households, at no cost.
- MediKids covers children ages 1 through 4 above the Medicaid line and up to 200% of FPL.
- Florida Healthy Kids covers school-age children, 5 through 18, in the same income range, and it’s the component that offers the full-pay option.
- The Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan serves children ages 1 through 18 with special health care needs, like chronic conditions requiring coordinated specialty care.
All four provide comprehensive coverage with heavy overlap in benefits.7Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Florida KidCare – Title XXI Children’s Health Insurance Program Covered services include preventive and sick doctor visits, emergency and hospital care, ambulance transport, prescriptions, immunizations, dental cleanings and fillings, annual eye exams and glasses, and mental health and substance use treatment.8Florida KidCare. Comprehensive, Child-Centric Benefits The program describes benefits as “including but not limited to” those categories, so contact your child’s assigned health plan directly for anything specific.
How to Apply
Three ways in: online through the Parent Portal at FloridaKidCare.org, by mailing a paper application, or by calling 1-888-540-5437 to complete the application with a representative by phone.9Florida KidCare. Frequently Asked Questions Online is fastest, and the Parent Portal account you create is what you’ll later use to check status, pay premiums, and renew.
Before you start, gather:
- Social Security Numbers for each child applying. A parent’s SSN is optional but can speed processing.10Florida KidCare. Florida KidCare Application
- Income documentation such as pay stubs, W-2s, or your most recent federal tax return. Written documentation is only required if the program can’t verify your income electronically.1Florida House of Representatives. Florida Code 409.814 – Eligibility
- Immigration document type and ID number if the child isn’t a U.S. citizen.
- Details on any employer-sponsored health coverage available to your family.
If you mail a paper application, send copies rather than originals.
What Happens After You Apply
The program checks Medicaid eligibility first, since Medicaid gives the most comprehensive coverage at no cost. If your child doesn’t qualify for Medicaid, the application is routed to the appropriate KidCare component based on age and circumstances.
A complete application with all supporting documents usually gets a decision in about two weeks. If more information is needed from you, expect closer to six weeks.9Florida KidCare. Frequently Asked Questions The application stays valid for 120 days from the date it’s received; after that, it expires and you’d need to reapply or reactivate.11Florida Senate. Florida Code 409.8134 – Florida KidCare Program Eligibility Determination Process
For MediKids and Florida Healthy Kids, coverage begins on the first day of the month after the application is approved and the first premium has been paid.12Florida Healthy Kids Corporation. A Guide for Potential Florida Healthy Kids Enrollees Don’t sit on that first invoice; coverage doesn’t start until it clears.
One useful wrinkle if your child ends up in Medicaid: coverage can be applied retroactively up to 90 days before the month the application was received.13Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Medicaid Retroactive Eligibility Medical bills your child incurred during that three-month window can potentially be covered. If unpaid bills exist from that period, tell the provider once eligibility is confirmed and they can resubmit those claims.
Keeping Coverage Active
KidCare isn’t permanent. Every year, families go through renewal to confirm their children still qualify.14Florida KidCare. Renew – Florida KidCare About two months before the renewal date, you’ll get a notification asking you to verify household information. The program confirms what it can electronically, so you may only need to fill in what the system couldn’t verify.
The Parent Portal is the easiest way to renew. Mail, email, and fax also work. One exception: if your child is in the Medicaid component, renewal goes through the Department of Children and Families rather than the KidCare Parent Portal.14Florida KidCare. Renew – Florida KidCare
Don’t wait for renewal to report a big change. Income shifts, someone moving in or out, a new baby — report those right away. They can affect both eligibility and your monthly premium, and unreported changes can create problems when the renewal comes around.