Reader question:

Me and my kids aren’t citizens of the United States, but we’re living here legally and I’m not able to afford health insurance for us. Am I able to provide them with health care through Florida’s KidCare child health insurance?

Emilie

Maybe so.

For people who aren’t citizens of the United States, the path to getting state sponsored health insurance for their children might be even more difficult than for other people. There are several extra requirements that determine whether or not the child fits into a certain group that makes it to where they are able to receive this help from the state. For the most part, in order to get KidCare, you have to be a citizen. But there are a few children who can still get it even if they weren’t born in the U.S. They’re called ‘qualified aliens’.

People who are legally residing in the U.S. but aren’t citizens might be eligible for Florida child health insurance if they fit the following criteria.

• Are Ameriasians.
• Come from Haiti or Cuba
• Are refugees and have received certification from the Office of Refugee Resettlement for being trafficking victims
• Are the children of someone who is in the military or is a veteran of it
• Kids who have resided legal as residents for at least five years
• People in asylum, here as refugees, or who have had their removal withheld.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.