PALM BAY, Fla., Oct. 25, 2026 — For many families, health insurance is one of the biggest line items in the budget. Florida KidCare offers "high-quality, income-based health insurance just for kids," according to the program's official website. Here is what families should know before they apply.

What it costs

Costs are based on a child's age, household size and adjusted gross annual income, Florida KidCare says (Florida KidCare). "Many families pay just $15 or $20 a month to cover all qualifying children in the household," the program states (Florida KidCare).

Some families qualify for low-cost coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), where "the government pays part of your monthly payment amount," a subsidy, according to Florida KidCare. The program says affordable options are available to families at all income levels and offers an online Cost Calculator to estimate a monthly payment (Florida KidCare).

The federal government's HealthCare.gov site says CHIP costs vary by state, but families "won't have to pay more than 5% of your family's income for the year" (HealthCare.gov). It also says routine "well child" doctor and dental visits are free under CHIP, though copayments may apply to other services (HealthCare.gov).

Who qualifies

Florida KidCare is "for children, not adults," the program says (Florida KidCare eligibility). To qualify for low-cost coverage, a child must live in Florida, be under 19 and not live in a public institution. The child must also (Florida KidCare eligibility):

  • Have a Social Security number or have applied for one
  • Meet income requirements
  • Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible immigrant or a lawful permanent resident

The program says it uses Federal Poverty Level Guidelines to set families' monthly costs (Florida KidCare eligibility). According to the program, "Most Florida children qualify for one of the four Florida KidCare programs" (Florida KidCare eligibility).

HealthCare.gov notes that, due to a federal law change, full CHIP coverage is now limited to certain immigration statuses, including lawful permanent residents, Cuban or Haitian entrants and Compact of Free Association migrants (HealthCare.gov).

What it covers

Florida KidCare lists doctor visits, dental care, emergency care, hospital stays, immunizations, vision and hearing screenings and mental health services among its benefits (Florida KidCare). Federally, HealthCare.gov says all states' CHIP programs include routine check-ups, prescriptions, lab and X-ray services and behavioral health services (HealthCare.gov).

Documents

New enrollees must prove citizenship or immigration status and identity, according to Florida KidCare. The program says it checks this information with agency partners, so "you may not need to provide any additional information at all" (Florida KidCare eligibility). If documents are needed, the program's accepted list includes a U.S. passport or a U.S. birth certificate paired with an identity document, such as a school ID card (Florida KidCare eligibility).

How and when to apply

Enrollment is open year-round, the program says (Florida KidCare). Families can apply for free online through the Florida KidCare Parent Portal or call 1-888-540-5437 to request a paper application (Florida KidCare).

HealthCare.gov says that if a child qualifies for CHIP, the child won't be eligible for savings on a Marketplace plan, and that "CHIP coverage will probably be more affordable" (HealthCare.gov). Parents who don't qualify themselves may be able to get Marketplace coverage, the site says (HealthCare.gov).

Families can compare the numbers with the program's calculator and decide what fits their budget.

Sources

  1. Florida KidCare, home page: https://www.floridakidcare.org/
  2. Florida KidCare, "Requirements" (eligibility): https://www.floridakidcare.org/eligibility/
  3. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HealthCare.gov, "The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)": https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/childrens-health-insurance-program/

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