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FLORIDA CARE BINDER | SPECIAL MEDICAID ALERT | SEPTEMBER 2026
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URGENT FLORIDA MEDICAID ALERT
Important immigration eligibility changes take effect October 1, 2026. Families who receive a DCF request for immigration documentation should act immediately.
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IMPORTANT: If you received a Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) notice requesting immigration documents, do not ignore it. If DCF cannot establish eligibility for an affected recipient, Medicaid coverage may end on September 30, 2026.
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On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into federal law, changing Medicaid eligibility rules related to immigration status. The new restrictions take effect October 1, 2026.
Who remains eligible under the new federal rules?
- U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs/Green Card holders)
- Cuban or Haitian entrants
- Certain migrants under the Compacts of Free Association (COFA), including citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau
Certain other non-citizens who previously qualified for Medicaid, including refugees, asylees, and certain humanitarian parolees, may be affected by the new restrictions.
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Important protection for Florida children: CHIPRA
Florida has elected a federal coverage option under the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). This option allows qualifying lawfully residing children age 18 or younger to continue to be eligible for Medicaid, provided they meet the other applicable Medicaid eligibility requirements.
A child should not automatically be considered ineligible simply because the child's immigration category is not one of the general categories listed under the new OBBBA restrictions.
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What does “lawfully residing” mean?
For CHIPRA purposes, being lawfully residing is not necessarily the same as being a Lawful Permanent Resident. A child does not necessarily have to possess a Green Card to potentially meet the applicable lawfully residing requirements.
DCF must evaluate the child's specific immigration status and documentation under applicable federal and state Medicaid rules.
What families should do now
- Read the entire DCF notice immediately.
- Identify the deadline stated in the notice.
- Submit the requested immigration documentation as soon as possible.
- Keep copies and proof of everything submitted.
- If the recipient is age 18 or younger, make sure the child's eligibility is evaluated under Florida's CHIPRA provisions for lawfully residing children.
- If coverage is terminated and you believe the child remains eligible, review the notice and available appeal or fair-hearing rights.
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A DCF immigration verification letter does not automatically mean your child is losing Medicaid.
Children age 18 or younger may have Medicaid eligibility protections that differ from those available to adults.
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ALERTA URGENTE DE MEDICAID EN FLORIDA
Cambios importantes relacionados con el estatus migratorio entran en vigor el 1 de octubre de 2026. Las familias que reciban una solicitud de DCF para verificar el estatus migratorio deben actuar inmediatamente.
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IMPORTANTE: Si recibió una notificación de DCF solicitando documentos migratorios, no la ignore. Si DCF no puede establecer la elegibilidad de un beneficiario afectado, la cobertura de Medicaid podría terminar el 30 de septiembre de 2026.
Protección importante para los niños de Florida: CHIPRA
Florida ha elegido una opción federal de cobertura bajo la Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). Esta opción permite que ciertos niños que residen legalmente y tienen 18 años o menos continúen siendo elegibles para Medicaid, siempre que cumplan con los demás requisitos aplicables del programa.
Un niño no debe considerarse automáticamente inelegible simplemente porque su categoría migratoria no se encuentre entre las categorías generales establecidas por las nuevas restricciones de OBBBA.
Qué deben hacer las familias ahora
- Lea inmediatamente la notificación completa de DCF.
- Identifique la fecha límite indicada.
- Envíe la documentación migratoria solicitada lo antes posible.
- Guarde copias y evidencia de todo lo enviado.
- Si el beneficiario tiene 18 años o menos, asegúrese de que la elegibilidad sea evaluada bajo las disposiciones CHIPRA de Florida.
- Si Medicaid es terminado y usted considera que el niño continúa siendo elegible, revise la notificación y los derechos de apelación o audiencia imparcial.
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Official Resources / Recursos Oficiales
USCIS — Commonly Used Immigration Documents
USCIS/DHS — SAVE Records Information
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Florida Care Binder
Helping Florida families navigate healthcare, Medicaid, PPEC services, and resources for medically complex children.
Important Disclaimer / Aviso Importante: This information is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or an individual Medicaid eligibility determination. Esta información se proporciona únicamente con fines educativos generales y no constituye asesoría legal ni una determinación individual de elegibilidad para Medicaid.
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