We Accept Medicaid at Our Miami Lakes and Kendall Offices

How Florida Medicaid works: through a health plan

Most Florida Medicaid members are enrolled in Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, the program the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) runs through managed-care health plans. It has three parts: Managed Medical Assistance (MMA), which covers medical care; Long-Term Care; and Dental (AHCA). Most members choose an MMA plan and get their care through it. A small group of members, called “voluntary,” don’t have to join a plan and can stay in traditional fee-for-service Medicaid (AHCA).

MMA plans cover doctor visits, hospital care, prescribed drugs, mental health care and transportation to those services (choice counseling). Office visits to keep you healthy, prevent disease and treat illness are one of the services every MMA plan must cover (AHCA). That’s the everyday care Ambert provides: primary care, same-day sick visits, checkups and the management of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Plans are organized by region. Since February 2025, Miami-Dade has been in Region I, together with Monroe County; before that, it was Region 11 (AHCA).

Check that your plan includes Ambert

The question to ask isn’t only whether a practice takes Medicaid, but whether it’s in your plan’s network. Florida’s own guide to choosing a plan puts the question plainly: what plan do my doctors take? (choice counseling).

For Ambert, it’s one call. Phone the Miami Lakes or Kendall office with your Medicaid plan card in hand. Reception needs the plan name and your member ID, and will tell you before you book. If your plan has changed since your last visit, bring the new card.

Choosing or changing your plan

Florida’s Medicaid choice counselors help you pick or change a plan, online at flmedicaidmanagedcare.com or by phone at 1-877-711-3662 (TDD 1-866-467-4970), Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The call is free (choice counseling).

When	What you can do
First 120 days in a plan	Change plans; the 120 days start on the date your enrollment takes effect
Your yearly open enrollment	Change plans without state approval during a 60-day window; in 2026 it runs October 1 to November 30
Any other time	Change only with a state-approved “For Cause” reason

Source: Florida Medicaid choice counseling (FAQ, enrollment). If you were told you must enroll in a plan, the directions you received include the name of the plan you’ve been assigned to.

Applying for Medicaid

In Florida, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) decides who qualifies for Medicaid, except for people who get SSI, whose eligibility is decided by the Social Security Administration (DCF). The quickest way to apply is online through MyACCESS, at myaccess.myflfamilies.com; Florida uses one application for all its assistance programs (DCF). DCF’s public benefits call center is (850) 300-4323, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (DCF).

Unlike most insurance, you can apply for Medicaid at any time of year (HealthCare.gov).

Children’s coverage: Florida KidCare

Florida KidCare is the name for the state’s four income-based health coverage programs for children: Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids and the Children’s Medical Services Health Plan. It covers children from birth until their 19th birthday. It’s free to apply, enrollment is open all year, and you can apply online or call 1-888-540-5437 for a paper application (Florida KidCare).

If you lose Medicaid

If you lost Medicaid or CHIP coverage in the past 90 days, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to buy a Marketplace plan outside the usual enrollment season (HealthCare.gov). The insurance page explains how Marketplace plans work at Ambert, and the new patient guide covers what to bring to your first visit. If you also have Medicare, see our Medicare guide.