Healthy Kids Press Contact,
Ashley Carr, Chief Marketing Officer,
(850) 701-6160, [email protected].
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As the new school year begins, Florida KidCare is reminding families to add health and dental insurance to their back to school checklist. Healthier kids are better prepared to learn, and Florida students are required to have health insurance before participating in school-sponsored sports and most other extracurricular activities.
“More Florida children have health insurance today than ever before, yet an estimated 280,000 children statewide are still uninsured,” said Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and father of two young boys. “As parents, we all want the very best for our children, and balancing that with the costs of raising a child is tough. I encourage every Florida family, whose children are uninsured or who may be struggling with how to pay for health insurance, to apply for Florida KidCare now. Florida KidCare makes health insurance possible. It is helping parents keep their kids healthier, happier and ready to reach their fullest potential.”
Florida KidCare is a state-sponsored health and dental insurance program for children from birth through the end of age 18. Approximately 2.5 million children are already enrolled statewide. Covered services include doctor visits, physicals, immunizations, dental, vision, prescriptions, emergency care, surgeries, and more. Most enrolled families pay nothing at all for coverage and others pay as little as $15 or $20 a month for all children in the household, even if one or both parents are working. Families who do not qualify for free or subsidized coverage may purchase a competitively priced full-pay plan. The application process is free and easy.
“We are currently launching an all-new I Am KidCare education campaign supported by television, radio, digital advertising and direct mail in communities with the highest number of uninsured children,” said Rebecca Matthews, chief executive officer of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation. “Strategically reaching out and connecting with uninsured families in the neighborhoods where they live is paramount to the success of this effort. Families will also be introduced to Florida KidCare through new partnerships with local schools, hospitals and community-based organizations.”
Florida KidCare has more than 250 promotional partnerships statewide, including 10 back-to-school partners who are sharing information locally and providing free, in-person application assistance in many of the state’s highest uninsured communities.
| Back-to-School Partners | Counties |
| 90Works | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida | Orange |
| Central Florida Health Care | Hardee, Highlands, Polk |
| Communities in Schools Palm Beach County | Palm Beach |
| Florida Department of Health - Broward County | Broward |
| Health Council of South Florida | Miami-Dade, Monroe |
| Health Council of Southeast Florida | Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie |
| Lee Health Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida | Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee |
| Leesburg Center for the Arts | Lake |
| United Way of Central Florida / Success by 6 | Polk, Highlands, Hardee |
The time to apply for Florida KidCare is always now. Call 1-888-540-KIDS (5437) or visit floridakidcare.org to apply online or learn more about the Florida KidCare program and partners.
Watch the Florida KidCare video and download the Florida KidCare brochure.
###About Florida KidCare
Florida KidCare is the umbrella brand for the four government-sponsored health insurance programs – Medicaid, Florida Healthy Kids, MediKids, and Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan – that together provide a seamless continuum of coverage for Florida children from birth through the end of age 18. Benefits include doctor visits, check-ups, immunizations, prescriptions, emergency care, surgeries, dental care, and more. Most families pay nothing or as little as $15 or $20 per month. Full-pay options are available for those who do not qualify for subsidized coverage. Enrollment is open year-round at www.floridakidcare.org.
About Florida Healthy Kids Corporation
The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation is a nonprofit, public-private partnership created by the Florida Legislature to expand access to affordable, child-centered health insurance. The Corporation administers Florida Healthy Kids (healthykids.org), a comprehensive health and dental insurance program for Florida children from age 5 through the end of age 18. The Corporation also provides marketing, customer services and administrative services for Florida KidCare. This year, the Corporation is celebrating 25 years of insuring Florida’s children.
