Jeb Bush refused to fund Florida KidCare. 90,000 children with medical needs were placed on a waiting list. Florida lost $20 million in federal matching funds. Gov. Charlie Crist had a chance to lead on KidCare and passed.
The stimulus package offers $33 billion for KidCare. The problem is once again matching funds. Florida will get $2 billion for billion billion budgeted into KidCare. State Sen. Nan Rich is hoping to divert Medicaid into KidCare. It is uncertain if that will be allowed.
The St. Petersburg Times editorial board weighs in on KidCare.
You don't want Florida KidCare anyway, TRUST ME. We HAVE it and it is the worst nightmare of incompetence and left hand not knowing what right hand is doing management I have ever seen with an insurer. I'll bet I spend 60-80 hours a year on the phone with them trying to straighten out problems and never getting anywhere. For instance, they owe us $600+ that we requested a refund for back in November of 2008. It's now March 2009 and we're still waiting for it. They don't know what happened to it. Just keep telling us the financial office issued the check. I've complained to the Gov's offc and state level authorities but they don't care.
ReplyDeleteMac, that was the point of my post. Kidcare works better in other states. Florida government just doesn't care about running a competent insurer for children. These kids need health care and the Governor and state legislature ignores them.
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