elieving that keeping Florida's children healthy is one of the best ways to help them achieve, Governor Chiles and Lt. Governor MacKay made a strong commitment to ensure kids reach their full potential.

One of the administration's greatest accomplishments was the approval of the Florida Kidcare Act, passed by the 1998 Legislature, which expanded the Healthy Kids program statewide and provided health care coverage to nearly 256,000 Florida children. Healthy Kids received national recognition for providing low-cost insurance to working families and became a top priority of the Chiles/MacKay administration.

The Kidcare Act earmarked $245 million, which included $75 million in funding provided by Florida's historic tobacco victory and federal funds, to expand Medicaid eligibility under federal Title XXI. Uninsured children in Florida can now receive health care coverage through Healthy Kids Florida, Medikids, Medicaid, Children's Medical Services Network and other health insurance plans.

Children under age 19 with a family income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($32,900 for a family of four) are now eligible for coverage under the Florida Kidcare Act. The Act cut the estimated number of uninsured children under age 19- 823,000- by one-third.