FloridaWorking adults with disabilities can keep Medicaid waiver coverage
Florida’s program lets adults with developmental disabilities keep Medicaid coverage for home and community-based services while working, if they meet its income and asset limits.
What it does
Eligible adults with developmental disabilities can keep Medicaid coverage for home and community-based services while working, if they meet the program’s age, enrollment, income, and asset rules.
The department must explain the program and how to get help to eligible adults. It must notify people already eligible within 90 days after the law took effect, then notify new eligible adults at first waiver enrollment and at least yearly.
Argument forEligible workers may be able to earn income while keeping Medicaid coverage for home and community-based services, within the program limits.
Argument againstWorkers whose income or countable assets exceed the program limits may not qualify to keep Medicaid coverage through this program.
More detail
The Working People with Disabilities program allows eligible adults to keep Medicaid coverage while working. The program covers adults with developmental disabilities who work and are enrolled in a listed Medicaid home and community-based services waiver or program. Adults must have a developmental disability, be at least 18, have earned income, and already be enrolled in a listed Medicaid waiver or program. Monthly income must not exceed 550 percent of the federal Supplemental Security Income benefit rate. The agencies disregard assets up to $13,000 for one person or $24,000 for a couple, and exclude qualifying retirement accounts from asset limits. The law took effect when it became law.
The Department of Children and Families must notify eligible adults about the program and provide a way to get help. The notice duty covers eligible adults who first enroll in a listed waiver and adults already eligible when the law took effect. Notices must explain automatic enrollment, eligibility, keeping Medicaid benefits while earning income, optional participation, special needs trusts, and where to get help. The Agency for Health Care Administration must identify recipients enrolled in Supplemental Security Income and a listed waiver, then share that information with the department as needed to carry out the program. The department must notify currently eligible enrollees within 90 days after the law took effect. For later enrollees, it must provide notice at initial waiver enrollment and at least annually.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 22Chapter No. 2026-88Latest
- May 21Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- May 6Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 5Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5In Messages
- Mar 5CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 5Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 5Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 5Substituted for CS/SB 1016
- Mar 5Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 5Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Feb 26ReceivedMinor
- Feb 26Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 25In Messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25CS passed; YEAS 115, NAYS 0Passed House
- Feb 25Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 25Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 19Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
- Feb 10Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Health & Human Services Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 10Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
- Feb 10Favorable by Health & Human Services CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
- Jan 28Now in Health & Human Services Committee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Health Care Budget Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Reported out of Health Care Budget Subcommittee
- Jan 28Favorable by Health Care Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 26Added to Health Care Budget Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 22Now in Health Care Budget Subcommittee
- Jan 22Referred to Health & Human Services CommitteeMinor
- Jan 22Referred to Health Care Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 211st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 21CS FiledMinor
- Jan 21Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 21Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee
- Jan 20Favorable with CS by Human Services SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Human Services Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 15Added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Human Services Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to Health & Human Services CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Health Care Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Human Services SubcommitteeMinor
- 2025
- Dec 29FiledIntroduced
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