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Medicare and health costs
Florida Medicaid in Florida
Florida calls Medicaid for people 65 and older SSI-Related Medicaid.
Through the MEDS-AD group you may qualify with income up to 88% of the poverty level and savings up to $5,000 for one person, and if your income is higher the Medically Needy program can cover you once your medical bills reach a monthly share of cost. The Department of Children and Families decides eligibility, and long-term care at home or in a nursing home has its own, higher income limit.
How to apply in Florida
- By phone
- 850-300-4323
- In person
- Print the application and mail or fax it to a local DCF Customer Service Center. If you get SSI, you already have Medicaid through Social Security and only need to apply to DCF for nursing-home or home-care services.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Florida
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (MEDS-AD, 2026) | $1,171 a month (88% of the poverty level) | $1,588 a month (88% of the poverty level) Source: Florida Department of Children and Families (source 1) |
| Savings limit (MEDS-AD, 2026) | $5,000 | $6,000 Source: Florida Department of Children and Families (source 1) |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | Yes: Medically Needy has no income limit. Medicaid starts paying each month once your medical bills reach your "share of cost", figured from your income minus $180 for one person or $241 for a couple (2026). Savings limit $5,000 / $6,000. Source: Florida Department of Children and Families (source 1) |
|---|---|
| Income limit for nursing-home or home-care Medicaid (2026) | $2,982 a month for one person (300% of the SSI amount), for nursing homes (ICP), home and community-based services and hospice; savings limit $2,000 Source: Florida Department of Children and Families (source 1) |
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | No: Florida has not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under 65 Source: KFF (source 3) |
How Florida is different
Where Florida's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.
- Higher income limit through MEDS-AD: 88% of the poverty level
- Higher savings limit: $5,000 for one person, $6,000 for a couple
- Medically Needy (share of cost) for people whose income is over the limit
- Long-term care at home or in assisted living through the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program (SMMC LTC)
Source: Florida Department of Children and Families (source 1)
Good to know
- If you get SSI, you get Medicaid automatically through Social Security and don't need a separate ACCESS Florida application unless you need nursing-home care.
- When applying for long-term care in a nursing home or at home, check the box for HCBS/Waivers or Nursing Home on the application.
- Nursing-home residents keep a personal needs allowance of $160 a month (July 2026).
Source: Florida Department of Children and Families (source 2)
Free help
Free help with this in Florida
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Florida
Medicaid for older adults in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Florida Department of Children and Families, SSI-Related Medicaid Coverage Groups Financial Eligibility Standards, July 2026 (Appendix A-9) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Florida Department of Children and Families, Medicaid (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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