Florida Medicaid and KidCare for a Grandchild in Kinship Care

Most Kinship Children Qualify for Free Medicaid

If a grandchild in your care receives Child-Only TCA, Relative Caregiver Program payments, or Guardianship Assistance Program support, the child is automatically enrolled in Florida Medicaid. No monthly premium. No separate Medicaid application is needed.

For children in formal Chapter 39 dependency placements, Medicaid eligibility is categorical — the child qualifies regardless of anyone's income, and coverage continues seamlessly through the placement.

An approved Child-Only TCA case triggers automatic Medicaid enrollment for the child. You can also apply for Medicaid through MyACCESS without a TCA award.

How Income Rules Work for Informal Kinship Care

When a child lives informally with a grandparent — no TCA, no dependency order — Medicaid eligibility is evaluated under Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules. But those rules often work in the child's favor.

If the child has no taxable income exceeding the federal filing threshold, MAGI evaluates the child at effectively zero income — even if the grandparent has a pension or Social Security income. The result: most children raised by retired relatives qualify for full Medicaid based on the child's own zero income, not the caregiver's household earnings.

Florida Medicaid income limits for children:

• Infants (age 0–1): up to 140% FPL
• Ages 1–5: up to 133% FPL
• Ages 6–18: up to 133% FPL

All children on Medicaid receive 12 months of continuous eligibility with automated ex parte renewal through MyACCESS.

When KidCare Makes Sense

Florida KidCare is the umbrella program covering children who earn too much for Medicaid but still need affordable coverage:

• MediKids: ages 1–4
• Florida Healthy Kids: ages 5–18
• Children's Medical Services Plan: children with complex chronic conditions

Subsidized KidCare plans cover eligible children from 133% through 200% FPL at $15–$20 per month per household. Above 200% FPL, a full-pay option is available at actuarial rates.

For kinship families, KidCare is usually a fallback — most children qualify for zero-premium Medicaid through TCA, dependency placement, or the child's own zero-income MAGI determination. KidCare becomes relevant when the child is not eligible for Medicaid under the applicable MAGI rules or when you apply directly for KidCare coverage.

Mixed-Status Families

Non-citizen caregivers can apply for health coverage on behalf of citizen children without disclosing the caregiver's Social Security number or immigration status. Federal and state privacy laws prohibit DCF from sharing applicant data with immigration enforcement agencies.

How to Apply

For Medicaid: submit through the MyACCESS portal as part of a combined TCA/SNAP/Medicaid application. If the child is approved for TCA, Medicaid enrollment is automatic.

For KidCare: apply separately through the Florida KidCare portal if the child is denied Medicaid or if you want to apply for KidCare directly.

The Florida Kinship Financial Help guide covers the full healthcare landscape for kinship families — including how Medicaid, KidCare, and the Children's Medical Services Plan interact with different caregiving arrangements.

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