Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Legislature Has Several Options for Florida's KidCare Family Premium

Report 04-84, December 2004




Report Summary

  • Florida's KidCare Program provides health insurance to uninsured, low-income children and requires cost sharing for some enrollees. Enrollees in the MediKids, Children's Medical Services Network, and Healthy Kids components pay premiums of $15 or $20 per month, depending on family income.
  • As directed by law, this report examines options for changing the family premium for Florida's KidCare Program. In setting family premiums for the KidCare Program, the Legislature should consider tradeoffs between the goals of reducing state costs by raising premium amounts and serving the maximum number of children within budgetary constraints.
  • If the Legislature wants to reduce the state costs of the KidCare Program, it could consider increasing family premiums for Fiscal Year 2005‑06. However, research suggests that raising family premiums would reduce the number of children participating in the program.


Related Reports
  1. State and Local Entities Use a Variety of Means to Inform Parents About KidCare
    Report 09-42 December 2009
  2. A Medicaid Buy-in Program Would Increase Health Care Access for the Uninsured But Also Increase State Costs
    Report 05-62 December 2005
  3. Continuing Certain Medicaid Options Will Increase Costs, But Benefit Recipients and the State
    Report 05-03 January 2005
  4. Healthy Kids Slots Used; Waiting Lists Eliminated, But Could Reoccur If Local Match Is Reinstated
    Report 02-02 January 2002
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, health care, kid care, children health, health, health programs, SCHIP, health insurance, children, KidCare, medical services, MediKids, medcaid for children, healthy kids, premiums, title XXI, Title XIX, cost sharing, federal poverty level, medcaid