In 2014, half of all births in Florida were covered by Medicaid, and the percentage is expected to rise in the coming years.
About 2 million children are covered by Florida’s Medicaid program in any given month.
Using state and federal data from 2014 on access to health care for children covered by Medicaid, we crafted an account of a fictional baby girl born in Florida in 2014.
Her name, Isabella, was the most popular name for girls born in Florida in that year.
Like 2 million other Florida children, Isabella’s health care is paid for by Medicaid.
In the hours after her birth, Isabella’s parents had to call the Florida Department of Children and Families to notify the agency that she was born, and had to call the Medicaid CHOICE counseling line to pick a Medicaid insurance company to manage her health care.
It’s very likely in the next year, she’ll go to at least one checkup with a doctor, and Medicaid will pay for all visits.
FACT: 92% of kids ages 0-1 got at least one checkup.
Age 1 to 5
Now that Isabella is a little older, her Medicaid insurance gets more confusing for Mom and Dad.
Instead of earning up to $4,094 per month for their family of four, they can now only earn up to $2,783 per month and keep Isabella’s Medicaid insurance.
They’ll probably get to all of Isabella’s doctor’s appointments, but sometimes, Mom and Dad might not be able to take off work or get a ride to the office, and Isabella will have to miss one.
FACT: 72% of kids ages 1-2 got at least one of the checkups they were due.
Isabella likely has a full set of teeth now and they probably need a cleaning. Mom and Dad will try to find a dentist for Isabella, but they probably won’t succeed.
FACT: Only 32% of kids got dental care of any kind.
Age 6 to 9
Now that she’s 6 years old, Isabella is eligible for two checkups between now and when she turns 10. She and her parents will likely make it to both of those visits.
FACT: 83% of kids ages 6-9 got the screenings they were due.
Mom and Dad are facing another challenge with keeping Isabella’s Medicaid coverage.
Now, they can only earn $2,643 per month and still keep their health insurance coverage. If they keep their income under that amount, Isabella will likely stay covered for at least the next three years.
By now, Mom and Dad may have found out that Isabella was switched to a different Medicaid insurance company without their consent. It happens to lots of kids, and Mom and Dad likely made lots of phone calls and worked with Isabella’s doctor and insurance companies to fix it.
TIP: Click here for a list of Medicaid insurance companies available in each service region.
Age 10 to 14
Isabella has more doctor visits coming up, but school and life get in the way. She probably won’t make it to most of the five visits available to her between ages 10 to 14.
FACT: Only 37% of kids 10-14 get to at least one checkup.
Isabella has most of her adult teeth now, and Mom and Dad managed to get her a dentist’s appointment. But some of her friends weren’t as lucky.
FACT: Only 34% of kids ages 10-14 receive any dental care.
Isabella’s parents often remind her to be careful when she’s playing outside: if she breaks her arm or takes a hard fall, it might be hard to find a specialist who will agree to take her Medicaid insurance.
FACT: Only 62% of doctors take new Medicaid patients, Florida Department of Health 2015 Physician Workforce Annual Report.
Age 15 to 18
Isabella’s doctor wants to see her for five checkups between now and her 18th birthday. She’ll try, but she probably won’t get to most of them.
FACT: Only 28% of kids 15-18 get at least one visit.
Now that Isabella has turned 18, let’s look back and reflect on her health care throughout her childhood.
Even though she’s had a hard time getting to all her appointments over the years, having Medicaid insurance has probably set her up for good future health.
Compared to some of her friends who grew up without health insurance, she will likely be a healthier adult and earn more over time.
Florida 2014 Form CMS-416 report from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
State Medicaid and CHIP income eligibility standards expressed in monthly income, household size of three, October 2014, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Florida Department of Health 2015 Physician Workforce Annual Report
“Medicaid at 50: A Look at the Long-Term Benefits of Childhood Medicaid,” Center for Children and Families, Health Policy Institute, Georgetown University
Graphics by Jennifer Borresen, web development by Dak Le, and text by Maggie Clark.