Ever since he was born, “Eli,” 4, has required a variety of services provided by Florida’s Medicaid program to ensure his health and safety.
A medically fragile patient of the Bower Lyman Center for Medically Complex Children, he also receives benefits through the Florida Birth Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association.
When his Supplemental Security Income benefits were terminated because his family was over-asset, the state also terminated his Medicaid eligibility without checking to see if he was eligible for another category of Medicaid.
Through the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership, Eli’s attorney collected information related to his Medicaid eligibility and filed an appeal challenging the termination and lack of due process, as well as a motion for expedited hearing. Within a week, Eli’s Medicaid benefits were restored.
Without Medicaid, the family would have had to drain their savings to pay out of pocket for his medical care and could easily have ended up bankrupt. Retaining Medicaid means that Eli’s mother can continue to stay home and care for his extensive needs while his father works and provides for the family as best he can.
