To apply for Medicaid in Florida, you file through the Department of Children and Families (DCF) using the online ACCESS portal, by mail, by fax, or in person at a Family Resource Center. Before you start, confirm you fit one of the state’s eligibility categories, because Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Adults under 65 who are not pregnant, not disabled, and not caring for a minor child do not qualify no matter how low their income is. An estimated 388,000 Floridians fall into that gap.
Check Whether You Qualify First
You must be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen, a qualified non-citizen, or a lawfully residing child under age 19.1Legal Information Institute. Florida Admin Code 65A-1.705 – Family-Related Medicaid General Eligibility Criteria Beyond that, you need to fit one of these groups:
- Children from infancy through age 20 living with a parent or caretaker relative.
- Pregnant women, during pregnancy and for a period after delivery.
- Parents or caretaker relatives of a child under 18 in the household.
- Residents age 65 and older who meet income and asset limits.
- People with a recognized disability, regardless of age.
- People receiving nursing home or long-term care services.
If you are an adult under 65 without a disability and without minor children at home, you are not eligible, and submitting an application will not change that. The marketplace at HealthCare.gov is the usual next stop, though the file does not detail those options.
Income and Asset Limits That Decide the Outcome
Florida uses two different tests depending on which category you fall into. Children, pregnant women, and parents are evaluated using Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from your federal tax return, with a small percentage disregard. There is no separate asset test for MAGI categories — your savings and property do not count.
Seniors, people with disabilities, and long-term care applicants face both an income test and an asset test. Under Florida’s Medicaid for the Aged and Disabled (MEDS-AD) program, income is capped at 88 percent of the federal poverty level after certain exclusions,2Legal Information Institute. Florida Admin Code 65A-1.713 – SSI-Related Medicaid Income Eligibility Criteria which works out to roughly $1,149 per month for a single applicant under the 2025 federal poverty guidelines.3U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2025 Poverty Guidelines Countable assets cannot exceed $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. If income falls within the MEDS-AD limit, the asset cap rises to $5,000 and $6,000 respectively.4Florida Department of Children and Families. Medicaid Manual – Chapter 1600 Assets
Children’s income limits are more generous: up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level for infants and children ages one through five, and up to 133 percent for children ages six through 18.5Florida Department of Children and Families. Appendix A-7 – Family-Related Medicaid Income Limit Chart Families over those thresholds may still qualify through Florida KidCare, the state’s separate children’s health insurance program. Parent and caretaker limits are tied to MAGI and household size and run considerably lower than the children’s thresholds.
If your income exceeds the standard limits, Florida’s Medically Needy program lets aged, blind, and disabled applicants, as well as families with children, “spend down” the excess by subtracting unpaid medical bills from the amount their income exceeds the Medically Needy Income Level.6Medicaid.gov. Eligibility Policy The amount you cover before Medicaid picks up the rest is called your share of cost.
What to Gather Before You Start
Having your paperwork ready prevents weeks of back-and-forth with DCF. Pull together:
- Social Security numbers for everyone in the household included on the application, plus proof of citizenship or immigration status.
- Recent pay stubs, your most recent federal tax return if self-employed, Social Security award letters, or pension statements.
- For aged, disabled, or long-term care applicants: bank statements for the previous three months, life insurance policies, retirement account statements, and vehicle registrations.
- A utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement confirming your Florida address.
- Information on any private health insurance or Medicare you already have.
You must disclose other coverage because Medicaid pays last — it only covers what no other insurance covers first. Hiding or omitting a policy will delay the decision. If you have recurring medical expenses, list them; in some categories they reduce your countable income.
Three Ways to Submit the Application
DCF offers two main forms. Pregnant women or households with children age 20 or under who only need Medicaid use the Family-Related Medicaid Application. Anyone who also wants food or cash assistance uses the broader Government Assistance Application.7Florida Department of Children and Families. Economic Self Sufficiency Forms Enter gross household income, meaning the amount before taxes or insurance premiums come out.
You have three filing options:
- Online through the ACCESS portal at myaccess.myflfamilies.com. Create an account, complete the application, upload your documents, and sign electronically. Save the confirmation number that appears after submission.
- By mail to the Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency Mail Center, P.O. Box 1770, Ocala, FL 34478-1770, or by fax to 1-866-886-4342.7Florida Department of Children and Families. Economic Self Sufficiency Forms
- In person at a local Family Resource Center, where staff will give you a timestamped receipt.
Immediate Coverage at Qualified Hospitals
If you need care right away and you are pregnant, a child under 19, a parent or caretaker relative, or a former foster care youth, certain Florida hospitals can grant you temporary Medicaid coverage on the spot through presumptive eligibility.8Agency for Health Care Administration. Qualified Hospital (QH) Presumptive Eligibility Ask the hospital’s admissions or financial counseling office whether they participate. The temporary coverage lasts until DCF rules on your full application.
How Long It Takes and When Coverage Starts
DCF has 45 calendar days to decide a standard application and up to 90 days if a disability determination is required.9eCFR. 42 CFR 435.912 – Timely Determination and Redetermination of Eligibility During that window the agency may ask for more documentation. Respond quickly; silence is the most common cause of delay.
Apply as early as you can. Florida eliminated retroactive Medicaid for adults 21 and older effective February 1, 2019, so your coverage starts the first day of the month in which DCF receives your application and does not reach backward.10Agency for Health Care Administration. Medicaid Retroactive Eligibility Medical bills from the months before you applied will not be reimbursed.
If Your Application Is Denied
Your decision notice arrives through the ACCESS portal or by mail. A denial notice states the specific reason, such as income over the limit or missing documentation. You have 90 days from the date on the notice to request a fair hearing.11Florida Department of Children and Families. Appeal Hearings A state hearing officer then reviews whether DCF applied the eligibility rules correctly.12Legal Information Institute. Florida Admin Code 65-2.042 – Applicant/Recipient Fair Hearings
Prepare by gathering the exact documents that answer the denial reason: updated pay stubs if income was the issue, medical records if disability is in question, a lease or utility bill for a residency dispute. Bring anything you did not submit the first time.
Keeping Your Coverage After Approval
Eligibility is reviewed at least once every 12 months. Before your renewal date, DCF mails you a pre-filled renewal form and gives you at least 30 days to correct anything that has changed and send it back.13Medicaid.gov. Overview – Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals If you miss the deadline or no longer qualify, DCF must send a notice of adverse action at least 10 days before ending your coverage.
Update your address in the ACCESS portal whenever you move. A renewal form that goes to an old address can cost you benefits you still qualify for, and reinstatement means starting over.