To renew Medicaid in Florida, watch for a renewal notice from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) during your annual renewal month, review the pre-populated form it sends, and return it with income and residency documents through your MyACCESS account, by phone, by mail, by fax, or in person before the deadline printed on the notice. Coverage runs in 12-month blocks, and missing the deadline is the most common reason people lose benefits they still qualify for.
DCF Tries to Renew You Automatically First
Before contacting you, DCF is required to attempt an “ex parte” renewal using information it already has access to: tax records, wage databases, and other government data sources. Federal rules prohibit the state from skipping this step or asking you to fill out a form when the existing data is enough to confirm you still qualify.1Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Basic Requirements for Conducting Ex Parte Renewals of Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility
If it works, you’ll get a notice in the mail confirming your new coverage period and listing the information DCF relied on. Read it carefully. If something is wrong, like a household member who moved out or income that changed, contact DCF to correct it. The state can renew your coverage through the automatic process but cannot terminate coverage or reduce benefits based on the data it finds without giving you a chance to respond first.1Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Basic Requirements for Conducting Ex Parte Renewals of Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility
If You Receive a Renewal Notice
When DCF can’t confirm your eligibility on its own, it mails a pre-populated renewal form to the address in your MyACCESS account. The form already lists your income, household members, and other details on file. Your job is to review it, correct anything that has changed, and return it with any requested documents. Federal law requires DCF to give you at least 30 days from the mailing date to respond.2eCFR. 42 CFR 435.916 – Regularly Scheduled Renewals of Medicaid Eligibility
The single biggest cause of lost coverage isn’t ineligibility. It’s a renewal notice going to an old address. Keep your mailing address current in MyACCESS at all times. If you’ve moved, update it before your renewal month.
Documents to Gather
What DCF asks for depends on the Medicaid program you’re enrolled in, but most renewals ask for a mix of the following.
For income, have recent pay stubs covering the last 30 days, a statement from your employer, your most recent tax return, bank statements showing direct deposits, benefit checks, and any child support or alimony records.3MyACCESS. Medicaid Details – What Documents Will I Need
If your Medicaid is through a program for seniors or people with disabilities rather than a family or income-based category, expect asset questions too. DCF may ask for bank statements for savings and checking accounts, mortgage statements, life insurance policies, and records of stocks, bonds, or certificates of deposit.3MyACCESS. Medicaid Details – What Documents Will I Need
For Florida residency, a driver’s license, utility bill, rent or mortgage receipt, school document, or any government-issued document showing a Florida address will work.3MyACCESS. Medicaid Details – What Documents Will I Need You’ll also need to confirm who currently lives in your home, so have information ready for anyone who has moved in or out since your last renewal.
How to Submit Your Renewal
Florida offers four ways to return your completed form and documents. Online and fax submissions confirm faster than paper mail.
Online Through MyACCESS
The MyACCESS portal at myaccess.myflfamilies.com is available around the clock and lets you complete the form, upload scanned or photographed documents, and submit electronically.4MyFLFamilies. Apply for, Renew, or Change Benefits This is the fastest route because it creates an immediate record of your submission date and skips mail processing.
By Phone
Federal law requires Florida to accept renewals by phone, including telephonic signatures.5Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. State Compliance with Medicaid and CHIP Renewal Requirements by December 31, 2026 Call DCF customer service at (850) 300-4323, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.6Florida DCF. Contact Us A representative will walk you through the renewal and record your responses.
By Mail or Fax
Mail your completed renewal form and copies of supporting documents to:
ACCESS Central Mail Center
P.O. Box 1770
Ocala, FL 34478-1770
Write your ACCESS case number, full name, and date of birth on every page so DCF can match your documents to your case. The fax number is 1-866-886-4342.6Florida DCF. Contact Us
In Person
You can drop off your renewal at any DCF or ACCESS Florida service center. Bring originals and copies. Staff can copy your originals on site, but having your own copies avoids a wait.
What Happens After You Submit
DCF reviews your renewal and documents to determine whether you still qualify. When it has everything it needs, the agency aims to reach a decision within 45 days, and you’ll receive a written notice confirming renewal and listing your new eligibility period.
If something is missing, DCF sends a separate request telling you exactly what additional documentation or clarification it needs. Respond quickly. Failing to provide the requested information by the deadline in that notice can result in a denial, and this follow-up step is where a lot of renewals fall apart, often because the letter goes to an old address. If you submitted online, check MyACCESS regularly for status updates rather than waiting for mail.
Reporting Changes Between Renewals
Renewing isn’t the only obligation. Between renewal periods you must report changes in circumstances that could affect eligibility, including changes to income (a new job, lost employment, or a raise), household size, and address.7Florida DCF. Change Report Form You can report through MyACCESS, by phone, or by submitting a Change Report Form by mail or fax. Reporting an income drop promptly may qualify you for additional benefits; failing to report an income increase can leave you owing money back later.8Florida DCF. Medicaid Redetermination
If Your Coverage Is Denied or Terminated
If DCF decides you no longer qualify, you’ll receive a Notice of Case Action explaining the reason and your right to a fair hearing. You can request the hearing in writing, by phone, or in person within 90 days of the notice’s mailing date.9State of Florida Department of Children and Families. EBT Repayment Agreement – Important Information About Public Assistance Programs
Keeping Benefits During an Appeal
If you request the hearing before the termination takes effect, by the end of the last day of the month before coverage ends, your Medicaid benefits can continue at the prior level until the hearing officer issues a decision.9State of Florida Department of Children and Families. EBT Repayment Agreement – Important Information About Public Assistance Programs That window is tight. Act the day you receive the Notice of Case Action.
The 90-Day Reconsideration Window
If your coverage was terminated because you didn’t return the renewal form or provide requested information, and not because you were found ineligible, you have 90 days after the termination date to submit the missing paperwork. Federal law requires DCF to treat that submission as a renewal and reconsider your eligibility without making you file a new application.2eCFR. 42 CFR 435.916 – Regularly Scheduled Renewals of Medicaid Eligibility Reconsideration is faster than a new application and can restore coverage retroactively, so if you missed a deadline but still qualify, send your documents in as fast as you can inside that 90 days.
If You Can’t Get Reinstated
Losing Medicaid opens a 90-day special enrollment period to sign up for a health plan through the federal Marketplace at Healthcare.gov, without waiting for annual open enrollment.10HealthCare.gov. Getting Health Coverage Outside Open Enrollment Federal rules also require DCF to transfer your information electronically to the Marketplace when it finds you ineligible, so your data may already be on file when you apply.11Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Enhancing Enrollment of Individuals Transitioning from Medicaid or CHIP to Marketplace Coverage Depending on income, premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions can substantially lower the price of a Marketplace plan.