Florida Medicaid Eligibility Requirements

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed March 05, 2018

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There are many people in Florida who may qualify for medical care or nursing home treatment under Medicaid. Usually, those people are in a lower income bracket, and may have issues like disabilities or age that prevent them from working. If you would like to know more about eligibility for Medicaid in Florida, the following article provides the basics.

Medicaid Basics

Medicaid is a federal and state program designed to supplement the income of persons who need medical and/or nursing home treatment. If the person qualifies for Medicaid benefits under the Institutional Care Program (ICP), the state will pay the difference between the person's monthly income and the monthly charge for the nursing home. The Medicaid program in Florida is administered by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Basic Medicaid Eligibility

Medicaid eligibility in Florida is determined by Florida's Department of Children and Families or the Social Security Administration for recipients of supplemental security income (SSI). In order to be eligible, the individual must be a child, the parent or caretaker of a child, pregnant, elderly, blind, or disabled, and meet income requirements. The Affordable Care Act made changes to Medicaid Eligibility that are effective as of January 1, 2014. Now, Medicaid eligibility is based on IRS rules for determining household and income.

Income Requirements for Florida Residents

For many of the groups eligible for Medicaid, income eligibility is determined in relation to the Federal Poverty Level, which changes every year. In Florida, if the household income of a person eligible for Medicaid is less than a certain percent of the Federal Poverty Level, that person meets the income requirements. These percentages change based on family size and eligibility group (e.g. pregnancy, age, or disability). For example, Florida may set the income eligibility limit as 153% of the Federal Poverty Level for a family of two in one eligibility group, and 205% for a family of three in another eligibility group.

Below you will find descriptions on how to calculate income and household for Medicaid eligibility in Florida.

Calculating Income
  • Medicaid income eligibility is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). This calculation is based on federal income tax rules, but is not a number that is found on a tax return. Unlike the calculations before the Affordable Care Act, there are no "asset tests" or "disregards."
  • Basic Calculation for MAGI: Adjusted Gross Income (based on tax rules) plus foreign income not included in taxes, interest that was not included in taxes, and tax-exempt social security income. Some examples of income that is NOT included in MAGI are:

 

 

Calculating Household
  • Child support income
  • Scholarships, fellowships, and grants used for educational purposes
  • American Indian and Alaska Native income received from distributions, payments, ownership interests, and real property usage rights.

Generally, the number of people in a household for Medicaid eligibility is the same as the number of people in the household for tax purposes. Parents, children, and siblings are all part of the same household. Step parents and parents are treated the same. Children and siblings, whether or not they have income, are included in the same household as the rest of the family. Older children count in the household, as long as a parent claims them as a dependent on taxes.

Note: A child's income does not count towards the household income if the child is not required to file a tax return.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Florida Codes and Legal Research Options

Related Resources

Talk to an Experienced Attorney About Medicaid Eligibility

If you need medical or nursing home services, you might be interested in the Medicaid program. However, there are a lot of complex qualification requirements. If you're unsure about whether you qualify for Medicaid under Florida law, help is available. An attorney experienced in medicaid law can provide you with the information you need to determine your eligibility. Get in touch with one today.

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