S. 2496: Keep Kids Covered Act

This bill, known as the Keep Kids Covered Act, aims to amend existing laws regarding Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure continuous health coverage for certain children, particularly those under specific age thresholds. Below are the main provisions of the bill:

Continuous Eligibility for Young Children

• Newborns to Age 6: The bill proposes that states must provide continuous Medicaid eligibility for newborns until they reach age 6. This extends the previous eligibility period from one year to six years.
• CHIP Changes: Similar changes apply to CHIP, allowing children to remain eligible for benefits until age 6, with provisions for transferring to Medicaid if they qualify for full benefits during this period.

Continuous Eligibility for Older Children and Former Foster Youth

• Children Under Age 19: For older children and young adults under 19, the bill mandates Medicaid continuous eligibility for a longer period, adjusting the previous limit from 12 months to 24 months.
• Former Foster Youth: The legislation aims to allow former foster youth to retain eligibility for Medicaid until age 26, contingent on either maintaining residency in the state or other qualifying criteria.

Updating Contact Information

The bill includes provisions for updating enrollees’ contact information:

• States must develop a process to obtain updated contact details at least once a year for individuals enrolled under continuous eligibility, which helps ensure that their coverage can remain uninterrupted.
• Individuals enrolled for over 12 months must be informed about their continued enrollment and the duration of their coverage.

Effective Date

The amendments introduced by this legislation would take effect one year after its enactment, allowing states time to adjust their processes to comply.

Adjustments to Former Foster Children Coverage

The bill specifies that provisions regarding coverage for former foster children will be adjusted to ensure coverage continuity starting from January 1, 2023, for those who became 18 years of age on or after that date. Additional provisions would apply to other former foster youth 180 days after the bill's enactment.

Relevant Companies

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