With everyone age 65 and older eligible for Medicare, seniors may be the last group that comes to mind when there's talk of Medicaid spending reductions.

But the oldest and most vulnerable in Florida could be hit hard by the Senate's health care bill.

While Medicare pays for hospital and physician care, Medicaid helps low-income seniors with nursing home care, home-based care, eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures.

More than half a million seniors in Florida rely on Medicaid coverage, including many in rural areas, said Ann Swerlick, an analyst with the Florida Policy Institute.

"We need to keep in mind, this includes the most frail, medically complex and vulnerable residents of these areas," Swerlick said