The Florida Senate

408.903  Eligibility.--

(1)  Every resident of this state who has a gross family income that is equal to or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level and who meets the requirements of this section is eligible to enroll in the MedAccess program. For purposes of ss. 408.901-408.908, a resident is defined as a person who has established a domicile in the state for a period of at least 6 months. As used in this section, the term "resident" shall mean United States citizens or United States legal permanent residents.

(2)  A person or family who applies for enrollment in the MedAccess program must provide documentation that demonstrates he or she has not been covered by a health insurance policy in the 12-month period prior to the effective date of enrollment in the program.

(3)  A person or family who is currently eligible for health care benefits under Medicare or the Florida Medicaid program is not eligible for enrollment in the MedAccess program. However, a person may convert to the program upon losing eligibility either for Medicare or Medicaid or upon disenrolling from the Medicaid buy-in program established pursuant to s. 409.914.

(4)  The agency shall not use any information related to an applicant's assets in determining eligibility for the program.

(5)  Applicants for the program shall complete an application form developed by the agency and shall provide information related to the family dependents to be enrolled and supply documentation concerning family income and place of residence.

(6)  Applications for enrollment in the MedAccess program shall be submitted to the agency during a single month-long open enrollment period each year. The agency shall review all completed applications within 45 days of receipt. Applicants who satisfy the eligibility criteria and have paid their initial premium shall be notified by the agency of the effective date of coverage.

(7)  The agency may request verification of continued eligibility from members once every 12 months.

(8)  The program may disenroll any member due to failure to meet eligibility criteria, nonpayment of premium, or good cause.

(9)  Enrollment in the MedAccess program is subject to eligibility and fiscal limitations and shall be renewed annually.

(10)  If the Agency for Health Care Administration obtains the necessary federal waivers to implement a Medicaid buy-in program, members of the MedAccess program who qualify shall be entitled to transfer their enrollment to the Medicaid buy-in program.

History.--s. 41, ch. 93-129.