Florida KidCare and Children’s Medical Services Health Care Plan

Do you need health insurance for a NICA participant under 21 years old?  If you live in Florida, Florida KidCare might be able to help you.    

Through Florida KidCare, you can apply for health coverage that is administered by the State of Florida, like Children’s Medical Services (Children’s Medical Services is a health plan for children in Florida with special needs from families with more limited income). 

After you apply, Florida KidCare will then match you to health coverage program for which your child qualifies and that is right for your child and family, given your child’s specific health care needs.   They’ll also help you get your child enrolled in health coverage through the right program.

The health coverage programs through Florida KidCare have different names, such as Medicaid, MediKids, and Healthy Kids, in addition to Children’s Medical Services.  Each has its own eligibility criteria, such as family income and your child’s age and health needs.  But Florida KidCare staff will help you learn the health coverage choices you have for your child!  And no matter whether your child’s Florida KidCare health coverage is through Medicaid, MediKids, Healthy Kids, or Children’s Medical Services, all use contracted health insurance companies to actually provide the health care.

Unlike some other ways to get health coverage that only let you apply certain times of the year, children can get health coverage through Florida KidCare year-round, so you can apply any time it’s needed.

Remember that NICA pays all costs of health insurance for the NICA participant!

Read on for more information about Florida KidCare, including the Children’s Medical Services plan.  If you want to jump directly to information about Children’s Medical Services, click here. This link is to the contracted health plan that will be providing Children’s Medical Services care beginning October 1, 2026.