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.
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.