Medicaid helps provide medical coverage to certain vulnerable groups such as children of low-income families. Although the Medicaid program is funded by the federal government, state governments must administer the program. In Florida, the Medicaid program is run by the Agency for Health Care Administration while the Department of Children and Families helps to enroll people in the program. You can apply for Medicaid through its ACCESS website.
ACCESS Website
You can reach the ACCESS website by typing the search phrase "ACCESS Florida" into any search engine. Alternatively, you can go to Florida's Department of Children and Families website. Scroll down until you see the Latest News section and look left to find the ACCESS Florida section. You can then follow the links in the section to begin your application or check your application status.
Application
Scroll down until you see the "Apply For Benefits" tab in the center of the ACCESS front page and click on the "Apply On-line for Food Assistance, Cash Assistance, and Medicaid" link right beneath that tab. Choose the "Apply for Benefits" option on the page that pops up, "Continue," and then confirm that you are going to apply for Medicaid. Make sure that you have your Social Security number, your resource information, your household expenses and your health insurance information on hand. Set a password and record your ACCESS Online Number. Fill out the application using your personal information, getting help if you need by clicking on the Help tab in the upper right corner on each page. When you are finished, hit Submit.
Creating an Account
Under the "Online Access" tab on the ACCESS front page, you'll find a link labeled "Register here." Click on the link to bring up a pop-up page where you can register for an account with the ACCESS service using your ACCESS Online Number. Follow the instructions on each page as you read through the user agreement, enter your personal information, verify it, set up your security procedures, and hit confirmation.
Status Updates
Log into your ACCESS account to check on the status of your Medicaid application. You should receive a response in 30 to 45 days after you submit your application. Even if the pre-screening tool says that you cannot receive Medicaid benefits, the actual assessment can give you a different result. Alternatively, if you are unwilling to submit an application through the Internet, you can use the Find An Office tab to find a local office where you can go to fill out your Medicaid application in person.
Tags: your ACCESS, your application, ACCESS Florida, ACCESS front, ACCESS front page