Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is delaying more than 40,000 children from getting medical coverage as the state awaits President-elect Donald Trump’s impact on health care.
President Joe Biden’s administration approved Florida’s plan to expand its KidCare health insurance program for an extra 42,000 families on Monday. That expansion raised the household income threshold from 200 percent to 300 percent of the U.S. federal poverty level.
The KidCare program offers lower costs for families to get health insurance for their children for everything from doctor visits and immunizations to emergency care.
But to keep the federal government’s approval of this expansion, Florida must comply with the federal rule that bans states from discontinuing children’s health coverage during a yearlong period even when families stop paying their premiums.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference on September 17 in West Palm Beach, Florida. DeSantis’ administration is hoping to delay expanding health coverage to roughly 40,000 children. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference on September 17 in West Palm Beach, Florida. DeSantis’ administration is hoping to delay expanding health coverage to roughly 40,000 children. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Florida challenged that rule in court and ultimately lost, but now health care officials in DeSantis’ administration want to wait to see if Trump’s presidency could change the rules around continuous coverage for children.
Florida Officials Want to Delay Expanding Health Care to 42,000 Kids
