How to Check Medicaid Status in Florida

In the United States, people can be eligible for free or low-cost healthcare through the federal Medicaid program, which is administered by states. After applying or, if they need to make changes afterward, people need to stay updated on their Medicaid status to make sure they are covered. States have different means of communicating this information, and Florida residents can use the Florida Medicaid Portal and the Florida Department of Children and Families website. Once a Medicaid application in Florida is complete, eligibility is determined by the Social Security Administration and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

To qualify for Medicaid in the Sunshine State, Benefits.gov posts that an applicant must be a Florida state resident, U.S. national, U.S. citizen, permanent resident or legal alien who is low income and in need of health care and/or insurance help. Applicants must also check at least one of the following boxes: being ​65 or older,​ responsible for a child aged ​18 or younger,​ having a disability or a household family member with a disability, being blind or being pregnant. There are also income limits for Medicaid approval, with a chart to refer to. As an example, a household of four cannot be approved if their income is ​$35,245 per year​ or more.

According to the American Council on Aging, it can take anywhere from 45 to 90 days for an application to be processed and then accepted or denied. The whole process from start to finish can take even more time and it can be frustrating for applicants to have to wait that long. This is why people are always trying to check their status through websites like the Florida Medicaid Portal.

When people initially apply for Medicaid through this portal, they are required to create accounts with usernames and passwords. This information should be kept in a secure location since it is needed to log in and access information.

For help with this and other questions, the Florida Medicaid phone number is 1-877-711-3662, TDD 1-866-467-4970. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Frequently asked questions and enrollments can also be texted to 357662 (answers are automated here) or people without Internet access can call 1-888-367-6554 for assistance.

The Florida Department of Children and Families is a state agency that helps families with public assistance programs like Medicaid. Customers can create online MyACCESS accounts and then get information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can also check eligibility and apply for Medicaid through this website. People who are denied Medicaid coverage and wish to file complaints can call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055 (TDD 1-866-467-4970).

The Family-Related Medicaid Fact Sheet is another good source of information that has links to many additional resources. It also has information about other state and local programs, like the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Children's Medical Services Network (CMS). The Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FEM) is also described in the fact sheet; this is an online marketplace that helps people understand and apply for qualified health insurance plans. FEM and Advance Premium Tax Credits may be available for people whose incomes are higher than the maximum limits for Medicaid.