Florida health insurance for seniors
Reader question:
I’m seventy years old and have been living in Florida for six months. What kinds of programs does Florida have for health insurance for seniors?
Duke
SHINE.
Sorry, not trying to be unreasonably cheery. That’s actually the name of Florida’s health insurance program for seniors. SHINE. It stands for Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders and is the state’s subsection of the program, called SHIP, or state health insurance programs, that is existent in every state and territory of the United States. SHINE does not actually provide Florida seniors with senior health insurance–that’s what Medicaid is for–but it does provide them with plenty of very useful services.
SHINE is, essentially, a way to educated senior citizens living in Florida of what their options are when it comes to medical health insurance. It helps them decide what they want to do in the long run, and helps them disentangle the confusing red tape that is wrapped around the new, improved Medicare prescription program. This free education comes in the form of one on one counseling and group efforts.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Florida health insurance for non-citizen children
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.
Child health insurance in Florida for American Indians
Reader question:
I’m an American Indian living in Florida. Are my children eligible for KidCare Florida health insurance?
Sam
It depends.
If you are a Native American, then it will still depend on your income and other eligibility requirements to determine whether or not your children are able to get KidCare Florida health insurance, such as determining whether or not your child is provided with health care insurance through your employer. If you otherwise meet the eligibility rules, then your children probably will be able to get insured through KidCare child health insurance.
The great thing about getting KidCare child health insurance if you are an American Indian is that it has pretty much no cost. Unlike other KidCare recipients, who must pay a monthly premium as well as some co-payments and fees for doctor visits and prescriptions, if you are an American Indian the service is entirely free, with no monthly charge nor co-payments. Call the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to find out if your child is eligible.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Grandparents and child health insurance in Florida
Reader question:
My grandson doesn’t have Florida health insurance, and it really worries me. I know about Florida child health insurance programs like KidCare. Am I able to apply for the insurance for him?
Luther
Unfortunately, no.
It’s naturally to care and be worried about your grandkids when you are a grandparent. That’s just how love works. It is even more worrisome when you see that your grandchildren are so vulnerable to a health disaster and might not be getting proper care, and their parents are either unable or unwilling to get this care for them. As a grandparent, this will make you desire more than anything to fix this problem, but because you do not have custody of the children, your rights are restricted.
That doesn’t mean that there’s nothing that you can do, though. Being a grandparent, you are able to look up information about the child health insurance programs in the state of Florida so that you can find out what can be done for the child. While you can’t apply, you can discuss your findings with the parents, and even have an application for child health insurance sent to them in the mail.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Florida health insurance for legal guardians
Reader question:
I take care of my granddaughter, and it’s hard enough to support the both of us while I’m getting on in years. How can I get Florida health insurance for her?
Glenda
Great question.
When you have a grandchild that lives with you in your home in Florida, they are likely to be able to get KidCare Florida health insurance, even if you are not their legal guardian. A lot of times, the parent’s income will come into play to determine the eligibility, but if you are the legal guarding, then it will be your own income.
If you are going to apply for Florida health insurance for your child, then they do have to be living in your home with you, but it is not necessary to reveal for how long. Even if they have only been living with you for a week, you might still be eligible for KidCare child health insurance, so that you don’t have to worry about the little one you’re taking care of being uninsured.