Tallahassee, FL — The Florida Health Justice Project and the National Health Law Program have filed a lawsuit to require Florida officials to implement a long-approved expansion of affordable health care coverage for children.
In 2023, the Florida Legislature unanimously passed a law raising the income limit for Florida KidCare from 200 percent to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Federal approval was granted in December 2024. Despite that approval, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation continue to apply the lower limit, denying eligible children access to low-cost coverage.
Brought on behalf of three children, the lawsuit asks the court to order the agencies to follow state law and evaluate the children’s eligibility under the 300 percent standard.
“These children have been unable to access the coverage that lawmakers approved and the federal government authorized,” said Lynn Hearn, Legal Director at Florida Health Justice Project. “That is wrong. Families are being denied affordable coverage even though the law is clear.”
“When agencies refuse to implement a law that expands affordable health care for children, families pay the price,” said Steven Schmidt, Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program. “State officials have a clear legal duty to apply the income standard set by the Legislature. At stake is whether children in families across Florida can obtain and keep health care coverage they can afford.”
Media Contact:
All media inquiries should be directed to the National Health Law Program Communications team at [email protected]. Attorneys are not available for additional comment, but policy experts are available to discuss access to CHIP and its impacts with interested reporters.
