H.R. 4028: Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act

This bill, titled the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act, aims to amend the Social Security Act regarding the enrollment of individuals in the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Here are the key points of what the bill would do:

Continuous Enrollment Provision

The central feature of the bill is to provide a 12-month continuous enrollment period for individuals covered under Medicaid and CHIP. This means that once individuals enroll in these programs, they will maintain their enrollment status for a full year without having to reapply or confirm eligibility during that time.

Changes to Current Regulations

The bill proposes specific amendments to two sections of the Social Security Act:

• Medicaid (Section 1902): The bill removes stipulations that previously specified enrollment conditions for children under the age of 19. The new language broadens the eligibility criteria, allowing for more flexible enrollment.
• CHIP (Section 2107): Similar adjustments are made to the CHIP provisions. The bill replaces references to "targeted low-income child" with the term "individual," effectively expanding the definition of eligible participants in the program.

Effective Date

The amendments proposed in this bill would come into effect at the start of the first fiscal quarter that begins one year after the bill is enacted. This gives time for the necessary adjustments to be made within the programs to accommodate the new enrollment provisions.

Objective of the Bill

The main objective of this legislation is to stabilize Medicaid and CHIP coverage by ensuring that individuals can retain their health coverage for a longer period without the disruptions caused by frequent eligibility checks or renewals. This change aims to provide greater security and access to healthcare services for enrolled individuals and families.

Impact on Individuals

With the proposed continuous enrollment policy, individuals would benefit from less administrative burden related to renewal processes, potentially improving their access to necessary medical services and reducing gaps in coverage.

Relevant Companies

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