Medicaid In Florida: Who Can Access Florida's Medicaid Program?
A federally-sponsored program, Medicaid is overseen by the state government and provided to eligible citizens. Prior to being allowed to access Medicaid benefits in Florida, an individual has to meet specific, state-mandated requirements. If an individual needs nursing home assistance, a program known as the Institutional Care Program (ICP) will provide some benefits. With the ICP, a person who has Medicaid will get assistance with their nursing home bills. People who live on fixed incomes will find this assistance invaluable since nursing homes are usually quite pricey.
Two departments decide who qualifies for Florida Medicaid. These are: the Social Security Administration and the Department of Children and Families. If a person is older than 65, or needs nursing home assistance, the Social Security Administration will make the eligibility determination. Females who are expecting, poor families with children, disabled or older citizens not getting social security payments, and people from other countries needing immediate medical care will fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Children and Families.
Medicaid typically provides coverage for all kinds of hospital or physician visits, specific durable medical equipment, some diagnostic and preventative exams, physician-approved medicine, and most surgeries. In some cases, the patient will need to pay a nominal co-payment of between $5 and $20, when the services are rendered. You might be wondering if you are eligible for Medicaid in Florida. If you are, you need to contact the Department of Social Services in your area. This will also be the place to submit your application and have a representative appointed to your case.
It's possible that your income might exceed the limits for Medicaid. If that's the case, you could still be eligible for coverage under the Medically Needy program. You would only be eligible for this program if you are incurring a certain amount of medical bills on a monthly basis. The level of coverage you will receive and eligibility requirements you need to meet are contingent upon how many people are in your family and how much you are paying out in medical expenses. If you'd like additional information about these and other coverages you could be eligible for, call your local Department of Social Services office.
