People could lose Medicaid soon; why one Central Florida parent is worried
Hundreds of thousands of Floridians could be losing their healthcare coverage.
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The state will begin removing people from Medicaid starting Saturday.
This change will affect people who earn too much to be on Medicaid but not enough to afford other healthcare options.
This cut also includes many children.
Marne Harvich wants the best for her child, and in her case, that means the best nursing care.
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Her daughter, Cassidy, 13, suffers from Congenital Central Hyperventilation Syndrome.
“She has no autonomic systems,” Harvich said. “So, if she falls asleep, she dies. So, she is trained and ventilator dependent.”
Cassidy has had the treatment since she was a toddler. Harvich uses Medicaid for the pricey therapies, but that could all end.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, Florida’s Medicaid program enrollment increased by 1.7 million people, including 500,000 children, during the pandemic.
On Friday, the federal government stopped its payments to the state.
Now, the Department of Children and Families plans to review the eligibility of almost 5 million recipients.
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“Without Medicaid, I really don’t know what happens,” Harvich said.
Florida Medicaid is income and children based. If your household income increases above $33,408, chances are you will be dropped from the program.
Harvich is unsure of where to turn.
“And it’s terrifying because it’s not, ‘Gee, I need to cancel her flu shot’ or, ‘Gee, she needs a wheelchair.,” she said. “It’s ‘Gee, how do I keep her here? How do I keep my daughter alive?”
DCF plans to start reviewing eligibility today. If you have yet to hear from them, make sure your contact information is updated. And if you have any questions, contact DCF.
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