Florida Families Face Dire Consequences of Medicaid Cuts

Florida families are grappling with the repercussions of recent Medicaid cuts that threaten their access to essential healthcare services. The situation has intensified following the implementation of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has led to significant reductions in Medicaid programs across several states, including Florida.

One poignant example is the case of Jennifer Wiedmeyer and her 10-year-old son, Hayden, who has been diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that compromises his immune system. Previously receiving comprehensive care from numerous specialists, Hayden’s coverage was unexpectedly terminated in 2023. “I learned about it when I went to make an appointment for him,” Wiedmeyer recounted. “They called and said, ‘Well, actually, you don’t have insurance.’ That’s how I found out.”

Florida is home to approximately 2.3 million children on Medicaid, making it one of the states where children are particularly vulnerable to losing their coverage. For families like the Wiedmeyers, this loss equates to a potential halt in vital treatments and medications. Hayden, who has five heart conditions, requires regular monitoring, yet he has missed routine echocardiograms and EKGs that are typically scheduled every two years. His last check-up was due in April 2024, and without insurance, his mother cannot afford the necessary medical care.

Research from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlights the prevalence of Medicaid reliance among U.S. children. The findings, published on September 24, indicate that most children will depend on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at some point before turning 18. Unfortunately, many experience gaps in coverage, leading to delays in essential medical care such as immunizations and dental visits.

Children born in non-expansion states like Florida are at a heightened risk of losing coverage. A staggering 59% of these children experience at least one period of being uninsured, compared to 36% in states that have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Florida is one of 10 non-expansion states, with children going without insurance for a median duration of 18 months, significantly longer than in expansion states.

The implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are dire, with estimates suggesting Florida could lose up to $3.8 billion in Medicaid funds over the coming years, jeopardizing the health care access of its most vulnerable residents, including children. According to Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, Florida’s child uninsured rate rose from 7.4% in 2022 to 8.5% in 2024, with approximately 67,000 more uninsured children eligible for Medicaid since 2022.

Advocates for Medicaid expansion argue that previous expansions for parents led to increased enrollment among eligible children. A ballot initiative was launched earlier this year in Florida to allow voters to decide on expanding Medicaid access. Ye Shen, a student in the Harvard PhD Program in Health Policy, noted that many eligible children remain unenrolled because their parents are not eligible for coverage.

Currently, just one in four children in Florida has continuous Medicaid coverage. Research utilizing a microsimulation model from national data between 2015 and 2019 revealed that 61% of children enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP at some point, while 42% were uninsured at least once before reaching adulthood.

As states grapple with the fallout from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Florida Health Justice Project estimates that the potential loss of nearly $4 billion annually over the next decade directly threatens healthcare access for the state’s children. In Florida, 60% of children rely on Medicaid, which also provides coverage for more than half of the state’s children with special health care needs.

For families like the Wiedmeyers, these cuts represent not just financial figures, but a profound impact on their daily lives. “You have to be a millionaire,” Wiedmeyer stated. “If you have a kid with special needs, you literally have to be a millionaire — and you wouldn’t be one for very long.”