How to apply for Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC)

Who it's for

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) is Florida's Medicaid program for people who need nursing-home-level care — whether they receive that care in a nursing facility, an assisted living facility, or in their own home. SMMC LTC pays for nursing facility care, assisted living, adult day health care, home health aide and personal care visits, homemaker and respite services, home-delivered meals, adult companion services, home accessibility modifications, medical equipment, and case management — all coordinated by a managed-care plan you choose at enrollment. To qualify, you must be age 65 or older (or 18+ with a disability), be financially eligible under Florida Medicaid's institutional-care income and asset rules (for 2026 that is monthly income at or below $2,901 — 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate — and countable assets at or below $2,000 for an individual, with special spousal-impoverishment protections for married couples), and be determined by DOEA's CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services) program to require nursing-facility level of care. A waitlist is the norm: CARES screens and prioritizes applicants for available enrollment slots through a wait-list release process. Apply through the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or the DCF ACCESS portal — eligibility is determined by DCF while CARES handles the medical level-of-care determination.

What you'll need

• DCF ACCESS Florida Medicaid application
• DOEA CARES Form 701B functional assessment (level-of-care determination)
• Proof of identity and Social Security number
• Proof of all monthly income (Social Security award letter, pension statements)
• Bank statements and documentation of countable resources for both spouses if married
• Medical records or physician statement supporting nursing-facility level of care
• Proof of Florida residency and citizenship or qualified immigration status

Where to apply

What to say when you call

“Hello, I'm calling to ask about Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC). I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need dcf access florida medicaid application, doea cares form 701b functional assessment (level-of-care determination), proof of identity and social security number — is anything else required? What is the best next step?”

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Step by step

1. Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or visit the DCF ACCESS portal to start your application for Florida Medicaid and SMMC LTC.
2. Gather your required documents: proof of identity and Social Security number, proof of all monthly income (such as a Social Security award letter and pension statements), bank statements and documentation of countable resources (both spouses' records if married), medical records or a physician statement supporting nursing-facility level of care, and proof of Florida residency and citizenship or qualified immigration status.
3. Complete and submit the DCF ACCESS Florida Medicaid application. DCF will review your financial eligibility based on your income and asset documents.
4. Undergo the DOEA CARES functional assessment. DOEA's CARES program will schedule a review using Form 701B to determine whether you meet the nursing-facility level-of-care requirement. This step is separate from the financial review and cannot be skipped.
5. If you are married, make sure to provide financial records for both spouses. Spousal-impoverishment protections may allow the community spouse to keep more income and assets — ask your DCF eligibility specialist for details specific to your situation.
6. After both the financial eligibility and CARES level-of-care determinations are complete, you will be placed on the SMMC LTC waitlist if you qualify. Contact the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER to ask about your current waitlist position.
7. Once an enrollment slot becomes available, choose a managed-care plan to coordinate your long-term care services.

What to expect: After you submit your application, DCF will review your financial eligibility and DOEA's CARES program will conduct a separate level-of-care assessment. Meeting the income, asset, and level-of-care requirements does not guarantee immediate enrollment — SMMC LTC operates a managed waitlist, and processing times vary. Ask the Elder Helpline or your DCF eligibility specialist for an estimate of current wait times and your position on the list. Once enrolled, you will select a managed-care plan to coordinate your covered services. Each year, you will need to complete a financial recertification with DCF, and CARES will periodically reassess your level-of-care status to confirm continued eligibility.

Renewals

annual financial recertification plus periodic CARES reassessment of level of care