Florida is taking sick kids off Medicaid months before planned [View all]
Florida is taking sick kids off Medicaid months before planned
Charlotte Douberley, a 2-year-old with cystic fibrosis, lost Medicaid coverage almost a year before she was supposed to, according to Floridas plan.
The Duval County toddler has been without health insurance since May 31. Since then, shes racked up thousands of dollars in medical bills.
She was recently approved for MediKids, a low-cost state program for children whose families make too much for Medicaid, but her coverage doesnt start until Saturday. Her supply of a vital, $26,000-a-month medication runs out Thursday, and her pharmacy is unwilling to order a refill until she has insurance again.
Ive just been calling everybody that I can, any resource, said Charlottes mother, Chianne Douberley. I feel drained.
Florida purged about 300,000 residents from its Medicaid rolls in April and May, after the end of a COVID-era policy that banned states from dropping people from the program for low-income children, families and young adults. Charlotte wasnt expected to be one of them.