ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Policy Institute reports hundreds of thousands of Floridians have lost Medicaid since April 1, 2023, thanks to the lifting of a federal pandemic exemption that allowed many to keep coverage through the pandemic.

What You Need To Know

  • The Florida Policy Institute reports hundreds of thousands of Floridians have lost Medicaid since April 1, 2023, thanks to the lifting of a federal pandemic exemption that allowed many to keep coverage through the pandemic

  • Erin Booth is worried because on March 31, Easter Sunday, the state dropped her son Landon from Medicaid coverage

  • Booth says the state claims Landon only got Medicaid coverage back in 2021 because it was during the pandemic, but she says that’s not what she was told back then

  • Booth says Landon is now on Florida KidCare, a state subsidized insurance for children, but she's worried it won't cover the cost of therapy Landon still needs in his recovery

Erin Booth says ever since her son Landon found out he had leukemia when he was just five years old, she’s been unable to answer one important question.

“He questions why he got cancer, and it’s hard to explain to a child why this happened to you because you don’t know why, and they want an answer,” said Booth.

Three years later, Landon’s cancer is considered in remission. But Booth says the cancer, and the extensive treatment for it, left his spine and brain with damage that requires expensive therapy, a treatment that she says costs $1500 an hour.

“I’m just really worried because Landon requires a lot of rehabilitation, he has a lot of health issues from chemotherapy, so it just worries me the most because it affects his quality of life,” said Booth.

Booth is worried because on March 31, Easter Sunday, the state dropped Landon from Medicaid coverage. Booth says the state claims Landon only got Medicaid coverage back in 2021 because it was during the pandemic. But she says that’s not what she was told back then. She thought it was simply because he had cancer and required extensive medical treatment for it.

Booth says Landon is now on Florida KidCare, a state subsidized insurance for children.

But there are already hiccups. She says she has paid the KidCare premium for April but has gotten notice her account is past due. And Booth says she’ll now have to pay hundreds of dollars a month in premiums and copays, and she’s not sure all of Landon’s care will be covered.

“It all cost money, especially, so I’m worried. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, am I going to lose it, are they not going to cover it,” said Booth.

And Booth says this has all taken a toll on her family. When she’s not working late night shifts to pay the bills, she says she’s constantly working to make sure Landon gets the care he needs. And now she’s not sure if it will still be affordable.

“I’m exhausted, I am exhausted,” said Booth. “I’m exhausted from having to advocate for something so simple, and not just medically but education-wise, mental health-wise. I’ve even put a back-burner on my mental health to care for Landon.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has expressed frustration with the state’s handling of Medicaid services. HHS is working on a plan to keep kids on coverage, but that may not be in effect for a year.