Medicaid is a joint federal and state program to provide health care for people whose assets and income fall below certain levels. Medicaid is different from Medicare, and it is important to keep these two programs separate. Federal law defines the rules for the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The federal government implements and manages Medicare. The individual states implement and manage Medicaid.
Like all states, Florida has several Medicaid programs that apply to different people with different needs and circumstances. Florida has not “expanded Medicaid” under the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Therefore, people with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty level are not automatically eligible for Medicaid in Florida. (The federal poverty level varies based on the size of your family).