Opinion: Florida moms can depend on Kidcare

Back when I was in medical school, long nights, split-second decisions and a fast-paced environment became a new normal. I didn’t realize at the time how much it would prepare me for the challenges that came with motherhood.

As a doctor, I am thankful to have a leg up when it comes to monitoring my daughter’s developmental milestones and spotting potential symptoms for illness, but like all new moms, I’m learning every day. Even with years of medical experience in tow, I am constantly confronting new questions about what’s best for my baby. When is the right time to take her to the dentist? When should she start sleeping through the night?

Thankfully, it gives us all comfort to know that we’re not alone in this. Most new moms (and dads) frequently experience an equal amount of triumph and tribulation in the first few months of their new child’s life. 

To put one of these many questions to rest, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first birthday as the benchmark for an initial dental visit. This gives parents just enough time to ask around for recommendations and put together a game plan.

Another easy answer is to the question of insurance. Yes, having health and dental insurance is best and yes, it can be affordable. Having insurance provides an irreplaceable peace of mind to new parents.

So this Mother’s Day, let’s all do our part to make sure moms across the state know that free and low-cost health insurance options are available to them through Florida KidCare. Many moms don’t know about their options. In fact, more than 257,000 Florida children are currently uninsured and more than half of them qualify for Florida KidCare.

Florida KidCare is built for children. Many families pay nothing at all, others as little as $15 or $20 a month. Florida KidCare keeps busy moms in mind through a simple application process that’s available online 24/7. In fact, enrollment is open year-round.

Florida KidCare combines four important insurance programs – Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids, and the Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan for those with special health care needs. The application process makes sure your child is placed in the program that’s right for them.

New moms across the state turn to their doctors and to each other for support and advice. From our first day on the job, our No. 1 priority is to keep our child healthy and happy.

Let’s do all moms a favor and make sure all Florida children have the coverage they need and deserve, because a healthy kid is a happy kid. If your child or grandchild does not have health insurance, join the nearly 2.5 million Florida families whose lives are made better through access to quality, affordable health and dental insurance. Apply today at www.floridakidcare.org or call 1-888-540-KIDS (5437).

Dr. Amra Resic specializes in family medicine in Palm Harbor and sits on the board of directors for the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation. She can be reached at amraac@gmail.com.