Florida Medicaid
pays for dentures for those age 65 and older.
Florida's Medicaid program, known as ACCESS Florida, provides low-income families and medically needy individuals with affordable health care at free or reduced costs. Everyone who qualifies for the program receives standard medical care, though some individuals such as pregnant women and children have access to a wider range of benefits.
Benefits
Florida Medicaid covers medical office visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, diagnostic screenings and lab work, prescription drugs, ambulance transfers, emergency room care, family planning services, chiropractic care and mental health care. Medicaid also covers limited dental services for dental exams used to diagnose an existing condition. However, patients can only receive benefits for treatments that include either a tooth extraction or drainage of an abscess. Many services, as of 2011, require a co-pay between $2 and $3 unless the patient is exempt.
Exceptions
Children have access to expanded benefits unavailable to adults enrolled in Medicaid. These include comprehensive dental benefits, vision screening and routine childhood immunizations. Pregnant women also have an expanded benefits program that includes prenatal and postnatal dental work, as well as a myriad of maternity benefits. Additionally, anyone age 65 and older enrolled in Medicaid can receive coverage for hospice care, nursing facilities and dentures.
Eligibility
To qualify for Florida Medicaid, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and a current resident of Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children have the widest access to Medicaid in the state, with laws requiring that their household make 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level, FPL, to receive benefits. Similarly, pregnant women must have household income of 185 percent or less of the FPL. Individuals determined medically needy can receive Medicaid benefits if their gross income after medical bills is less than 100 percent of the FPL.
Apply
To apply for Medicaid benefits, visit the MyFlorida website. Answer as many application questions possible to encourage a faster processing time. Before making a decision on your application, the state will request information regarding your current income, proof of Florida residency, proof of U.S. citizenship and a list of assets and liabilities. Medicaid applications may require between 30 and 45 days for processing, but if you are approved, your benefits may be retroactive to the date on which you submit and sign your application.
