Florida KidCare stands up for the health, success and future of Florida's kids | Opinion

Imagine a young child sitting in class, staring out a window, unable to concentrate due to the terrible, nagging pain of a prolonged ear infection. 

Now picture a parent with no family insurance coverage, struggling to find the funds to take that child to the pediatrician. Think of the missed days of school – and work — caused by an infection that's simple to treat.

As a long-time family physician, I have seen this scenario far too many times. Nearly 325,000 children in our state lack insurance. 

As the newly-named chair of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation’s Board of Directors, it is my mission to create a wave of change in children’s health care.

The corporation works daily to expand access to affordable, child-centered health and dental insurance coverage for kids through the Florida KidCare program. Florida KidCare combines Medicaid with three programs partially funded by the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program that provide free or low-cost coverage to families with low or moderate incomes.

Florida KidCare also offers full-pay coverage options for families whose income exceeds the standards for reduced cost coverage. In total, four programs cover nearly 2.4 million Florida kids from birth through age 18. Families with one or both parents working can qualify for Florida KidCare coverage.

To put this into practical terms, a family of four earning $50,200 or less likely qualifies for Florida KidCare coverage at a reduced cost of $20 a month for all kids in the family. Families earning more than that – even by a few dollars – often struggle to find affordable options when employer-sponsored family coverage may cost $800, $1,000 or even $1,200 per month.

We believe our corporation’s full-pay plan offers a more affordable solution to families, but the $3,000 medical deductible and $1,500 pharmacy deductible – each per child – is a struggle for many families.

When families cannot find an affordable solution for health coverage, they feel forced to go without. 

This legislative session, we’re working on an innovative proposal to transform the corporation’s full-pay plan into a better, more affordable choice. The new proposal offers monthly premium relief and reduces both annual deductibles to $0.

In a year following a devastating storm, state funds are tight and there are a lot of important proposals under consideration. But thanks to bipartisan support in the Legislature, along with the leadership of Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, I’m confident we can make a big change in the lives of many Florida families.

As a mother of three beautiful kids, there is nothing more important to me than standing up for the health, success and future of Florida’s kids. As a physician, I know that insurance grants everyone greater access to regular medical care.

To set a child up with healthy habits from a young age, to give a child the confidence of open communication with a doctor, will truly kickstart a lifetime of better health.

If you are the parent struggling to pay the cost of your child’s health insurance, I urge you to consider Florida KidCare. And I’d like to hear from you. Your stories are what drive us forward and will help push this proposal successfully across the finish line.

Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing for nearly 20 years. She resides in Brevard County with her husband and three children. She can be reached at docstephanie@gmail.com.