Florida Medicaid in 2026: What You Need to Know
- Ask Medicaid Florida
- Nov 13, 2025
- 6 min read
Why This Topic Matters
In 2025, the most-searched topic around Florida Medicaid involves the shift to statewide managed care, changes in eligibility thresholds and redetermination, and the implications for recipients and providers. With roughly 4.2 million Floridians enrolled and billions in state-and-federal spending at stake, these changes are impacting many households and businesses alike.
Understanding what these changes mean—and how to navigate them—has become essential for people who qualify for Medicaid, those who assist them (such as small business owners, caregivers, clinics), and anyone involved in healthcare in Florida.
Key 2025 Changes & Topics to Watch
1. Shift to Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC)
As of early 2025, nearly all Medicaid recipients in Florida are being transitioned into the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program. Under this system, enrollees are either automatically assigned to a managed care plan or must select one, instead of traditional fee-for-service Medicaid.
If you’re already enrolled in Medicaid, you may receive a notice of your plan assignment or options.
Your “continuity of care” rights are protected: if you’re undergoing treatment when the plan change happens, your new plan must honor existing doctor/appointments for 90 days (or longer in special cases like pregnancy, transplant, chemotherapy) even if the provider is out-of-network.
If you don’t select a plan, you’ll likely be auto-assigned. It’s wise to review your current providers and see if they are in-network with any of the available plans.
Implication for small business owners: If your business provides services to Medicaid recipients (e.g., home-health, clinics, dental, etc.), you’ll need to verify which managed care plans your clients are in, update contracts, ensure providers accept the plan, and monitor claims/payment flows.
2. Eligibility & Asset/Income Limits
Eligibility rules for Florida Medicaid—especially for long-term care or “medically needy” categories—are stricter than many assume. For 2025:
The “medically needy income limit” in Florida is only $180/month for a single applicant, and $241/month for a married couple.
Asset limits are also low (for example, $5,000 for an individual in certain categories).
For standard Medicaid (children, pregnant women, disabled, etc.), income thresholds vary. A recent guide notes “up-to-date limits for 2025.”
What to do:
If you or someone you help needs Medicaid, check the exact category (e.g., standard, long-term care, medically needy) and confirm limits for that category.
Keep proof of income/assets up to date, because the state is performing more redeterminations now (see next section).
For business owners providing services to Medicaid clients: make sure you know which eligibility category your client falls under—because the service rate, as well as claims and reimbursement path, can differ.
3. Redetermination & Coverage Loss Risk
With the end of the continuous coverage provision triggered by the COVID-19 public health emergency, Florida is actively verifying eligibility and removing ineligible enrollees.
Significant facts:
The state estimates a slight drop in enrollment in FY 2025-26 (from ~4.3 million to ~4.2 million).
Recipients must respond to renewal notices, update information (address, income changes) and act when requested to avoid disruption.
Providers and service vendors must be prepared for potential churn in client eligibility, which can impact service authorization, payment and continuity.
4. Budget & Spending Pressures
The state’s fiscal projections show a roughly 7.9 % increase in total Medicaid services spending in FY 2025-26 (driven by inflation, provider reimbursement, population changes). Why this matters:
With higher costs, managed care plans and state agencies may tighten provider networks, prior authorizations, or expand scrutiny.
For service providers and business partners, monitoring contract language, payment timing and authorization workflows is more important than ever.
5. Un-expanded Medicaid & Policy Debates
Florida remains one of the states that has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to adults up to 138% FPL. That means many low-income adults fall into a “gap” with limited options.
Why this is high-interest:
Many searches are around “why can’t I get Medicaid in Florida” or “what about expansion?”
Policy debates continue about expansion, adult eligibility, and state fiscal implications.
What You Can Do (Checklist)
If you’re a Medicaid enrollee (or advising someone):
Monitor your mail/email for a plan-assignment notice from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
Review whether your current providers (doctors, therapists, etc.) are in-network for any managed care plan you might be assigned.
Update your personal information (address, income, asset changes) so redetermination goes smoothly.
Keep documentation (income, assets, medical need) in case you’re asked for verification.
If you’re in a special treatment scenario (pregnancy, transplant, active therapy) check your “continuity of care” rights under plan change.
If you are a business owner or service provider working with Medicaid clients:
Understand which managed care plans serve your region; update contracting and network status.
Ensure your billing and authorization practices align with plan requirements (since statewide managed care means more standardized processes).
Track your client’s eligibility status—claims may be delayed or affected if coverage lapses or changes.
Build flexibility in your business model for potential injection of administrative workload (e.g., switching plans, verifying continuity).
Stay informed of managed care plan changes, reimbursement trends and policy shifts that might impact your revenue.
Common Questions & Myths (with Real Answers)
“Once I’m on Medicaid, I’m on for life.” Not necessarily. Because the continuous-coverage rule ended, you must respond to reviews and maintain eligibility criteria. If your income or assets rise too high, or you don’t respond, you can lose coverage.
“My provider must take Medicaid—they can’t refuse.” A provider must be in-network (or authorized out-of-network under certain conditions) in the plan you are enrolled in; if your current provider isn’t, you may need to change or request continuity of care.
“Medicaid in Florida covers everything.” Coverage is broad but not unlimited. The plan you’re in may have limitations, prior-authorizations, network restrictions, and some services may not be covered depending on the category.
“Medicaid expansion means I’ll automatically qualify.” Florida has not expanded Medicaid for adults up to 138% FPL. So even if your income is low, you may still not qualify under adult categories if you don’t fall into a qualifying group (pregnant, disabled, aged).
“I don’t need to pick a plan—I’ll just stay in fee‐for‐service.” For most recipients, the statewide managed care system will require you to pick a plan or be auto-assigned. If you prefer fee-for-service, check if that option remains in your category, but you may be auto-enrolled.
✅ Checklist for Medicaid Recipients & Service Providers
For both individuals and businesses interacting with Medicaid clients:
For Recipients
Check your mailbox/email for notices from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) about plan assignment or enrollment in a managed-care plan.
Review whether your current doctors/providers are in-network under your assigned or selected plan.
If you don’t pick a plan, confirm what your auto-assignment will be and how to change it.
Update your address, income, assets, household size information to ensure eligibility redetermination is accurate.
If you are undergoing ongoing treatment (pregnancy, transplant, behavioral services, etc.), check your “continuity of care” rights when switching plans.
Keep proof of eligibility, communications, plan notices and provider network lists in a safe place.
If you lose eligibility or switch to another program, understand how coverage changes, and what services may be affected.
For Service Providers / Businesses
Identify which managed-care plans operate in your region under SMMC 3.0.
Verify your network participation status with each plan; update contracts or credentialing if needed.
Review new reimbursement, prior-authorization and reporting requirements under SMMC 3.0.
Ensure your billing and claim submission processes align with the new plan structures and timeline (e.g., when plan becomes effective).
Train front-office/administrative staff on the transition, especially if you see Medicaid clients whose plan assignment may change.
Build a tracking system for clients’ eligibility changes, plan assignments, and network participation — because claims may be delayed or denied if a client’s plan changes unexpectedly.
Monitor any provider-manual updates from AHCA or MCOs (managed-care organizations) for changes in services, network adequacy, or quality metrics.
For behavioral-analysis, waiver, or specialty services: pay particular attention to “continuity of care” rules and transition periods.
The Bottom Line
Florida’s Medicaid landscape in 2025 is in transition. The move to statewide managed care, stricter eligibility verification, and fiscal pressures mean that both individuals and businesses involved with Medicaid need to be proactive. If you own a business that intersects with Medicaid clients—whether direct services or support services—you’ll benefit from preparing for plan changes, verifying networks, and managing client eligibility risks. For individuals, keeping informed, updating information, and staying on top of required actions is critical to avoid losing coverage.
About the Author
Ask Medicaid Florida is a trusted independent author focused on simplifying Medicaid news, policy updates, and healthcare resources for Florida residents. With a mission to make complex Medicaid issues understandable, Ask Medicaid Florida provides clear, factual, and timely insights that help readers stay informed and empowered. "You are valued, thank you for visiting our website".
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