H.R. 4641: Keep Kids Covered Act

This legislation, known as the Keep Kids Covered Act, aims to amend certain aspects of the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure that children maintain continuous health coverage. Here’s a breakdown of the main provisions of the bill:

Continuous Eligibility for Children

The bill requires states to provide continuous eligibility under Medicaid and CHIP for specific categories of children:

• Deemed Newborns: It changes the eligibility duration for deemed newborns from one year to six years. This means that if a child is considered a newborn under these programs, they will be eligible for coverage until they reach the age of six.
• Children Under Age 19 and Former Foster Youth: It also extends the continuous eligibility period for children up to age 6 and for children aged 6 to 18, increasing from a one-year to a two-year coverage period. Additionally, it ensures that former foster youth can remain eligible for benefits until they reach age 26, unless they move out of the state.

Updating Contact Information

The act mandates a process for Medicaid and CHIP to obtain updated contact information for individuals enrolled for over 12 months. This will help ensure that families are informed about their coverage and any remaining eligibility duration.

Implementation Timeline

These changes will take effect one year after the bill is enacted into law.

Adjustments for Former Foster Youth

The bill makes adjustments to how coverage for former foster children up to age 26 is applied. It specifies that this provision will apply to former foster youth who turn 18 after January 1, 2023, and will begin for others 180 days after the enactment of this legislation.

Relevant Companies

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