Florida Medicaid open enrollment begins Oct. 1: What beneficiaries should watch now

Florida Medicaid’s statewide managed-care open-enrollment period begins Oct. 1, but beneficiaries do not have to switch plans.

From Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, 2026, enrollees may remain in their current managed-care plan or request a different one. Any requested plan change will take effect Dec. 1, according to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Key dates for Medicaid beneficiaries

• July 2026: AHCA began sending open-enrollment reminder letters.
• Sept. 30: AHCA expects to complete the open-enrollment mailings.
• Oct. 1-Nov. 30: Beneficiaries may keep their plan or request a change.
• Dec. 1: Requested plan changes take effect.

Receiving a letter does not mean a beneficiary must choose a new plan. Those satisfied with their current coverage can remain enrolled without making a change.

How to keep or change a plan

Beginning Oct. 1, beneficiaries can request a plan change in three ways:

• Text ENROLL to FLSMMC (357662). Enrollees should have each member’s Medicaid identification number and account PIN available.
• Use the Florida Medicaid managed-care website’s member portal or enrollment virtual assistant.
• Call 1-877-711-3662 to speak with a Choice Counselor.

A plan change is not immediate. Requested changes become effective Dec. 1, 2026.

Check provider networks before switching

Beneficiaries considering a change should verify that the prospective plan includes the doctors, specialists, pharmacies, hospitals and behavioral-health providers they use. They should also check coverage for prescriptions, transportation and other active services.

AHCA’s open-enrollment notice does not guarantee that a current provider will remain in-network after a regular managed-care plan change. Beneficiaries should ask the prospective plan or a Choice Counselor about network participation and any transition details before making a selection.

A separate option for some adults with disabilities

Florida also has a separate voluntary enrollment and transfer opportunity for some adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Comprehensive Managed Care Program, known as ICMC.

A person may be eligible if they:

• Reside in Florida and are eligible for Medicaid;
• Are at least 18 years old;
• Have a qualifying developmental disability under Florida law; and
• Are in an iBudget waiver pre-enrollment category.

Eligibility also depends on available space. As of July 1, 2026, people already enrolled in the iBudget waiver or the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program may be able to transfer into ICMC if they meet the criteria.

ICMC is a statewide Medicaid program administered through Florida Community Care. It combines regular Medicaid medical services with home- and community-based services similar to those offered through the iBudget waiver. AHCA says eligible participants can call 1-877-711-3662 and select option 4 to ask about eligibility or begin enrollment.

ICMC is not an option for every Medicaid recipient, and enrollment is voluntary. People considering it should ask how the change would affect their current services, providers and placement on the iBudget pre-enrollment list.

What continuity-of-care protection applies

For qualifying ICMC enrollees who are moving from another program, Florida requires Florida Community Care to make continuity-of-care payments to qualifying out-of-network providers already serving the enrollee before the effective date of enrollment or transfer.

That continuity-of-care period lasts 180 days from the date of enrollment. The provision applies to the ICMC transition and should not be treated as a guarantee that every provider will remain available after any Medicaid plan change.

Public comments remain open on proposed ICMC changes

AHCA is accepting public comments through Aug. 28, 2026, on a proposed amendment to the ICMC waiver.

The amendment remains a proposal, not a final change approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. AHCA will consider comments before deciding whether to submit the request to CMS.

Comments can be emailed to FLMedicaidWaivers@ahca.myflorida.com or mailed to the Bureau of Medicaid Policy, Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, MS 20, Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

What Florida beneficiaries should do now

• Watch for an AHCA reminder letter by Sept. 30.
• If considering a switch, compare provider networks, prescriptions, hospitals, behavioral-health services, transportation and other active care needs before Nov. 30.
• Keep a Medicaid ID number and account PIN available if using the text-enrollment option.
• Remember that a requested plan change will not take effect until Dec. 1, 2026.
• If asking about ICMC, call 1-877-711-3662 and select option 4 to confirm eligibility, available space and provider-continuity arrangements.

For regular managed-care enrollment questions, beneficiaries can call 1-877-711-3662. No action is required simply because open enrollment begins.

Sources

• Florida AHCA ICMC Program
• Florida Medicaid ICMC coverage update

Look for updates to this story

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