HR 4641
Keep Kids Covered Act
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Bill overview
The Keep Kids Covered Act extends continuous Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for children, initially up to age 6 and then through age 18 or until a child leaves the state. It also provides continuous eligibility for former foster youth up to age 26. The bill requires states to update contact information for children enrolled in these programs for longer than a year and clarifies the application of coverage continuity for foster youth.
Key provisions
- Extends Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility for children under age 6 to 6 years.
- Extends Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility for children under age 19 and former foster youth to 24 months.
- Extends Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility for former foster youth to age 26.
- Requires states to annually update contact information for children enrolled in continuous eligibility programs for over a year.
- Mandates that states provide information to enrolled children and their families about their continuous eligibility period.
- Adjusts the effective date for coverage continuity for former foster youth.
- Clarifies the process for obtaining contact information during continuous eligibility.
- Updates the definition of ‘continuous’ eligibility in Medicaid and CHIP.
Who is affected
- Children
- Families with low incomes
- Former foster youth
- State Medicaid programs
- State CHIP programs
Notable changes
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 4641
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to provide for continuous eligibility for certain children under the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
This Act may be cited as the Keep Kids Covered Act
.
one yearand inserting
6 years.
1 year of ageand inserting
6 years of age (except that such a child who is enrolled under the State child health plan or waiver may be transferred to the Medicaid program under title XIX for the remaining duration of the 6-year continuous eligibility period, if the child becomes eligible for full benefits under title XIX during such period).
in the paragraph heading, by striking 1 year of continuous
and inserting Continuous
;
in the text preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting has attained the age of 6 and
after an individual who
;
in subparagraph (A), by striking the 12-month period
and inserting the 24-month period
;
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
by striking The State plan
and inserting:
the time that such individual attains the age of 6; or
the date that such individual ceases to be a resident of such State.
The State plan
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
the time that such individual attains the age of 26; or
the date that such individual ceases to be a resident of such State.
by striking 1 year of
; and
by striking 12-month
and inserting applicable
.
Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)), as amended by sections 71103(a)(1) and 71104 of Public Law 119–21, is amended—
in paragraph (88), by striking and
at the end;
in paragraph (89), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by inserting after paragraph (89) the following new paragraph:
to obtain, not less frequently than annually, the up-to-date contact information for individuals enrolled under such plan (or a waiver of such plan) who have been so enrolled for a period of longer than 12 months pursuant to a continuous eligibility provision under this title; and
to inform each such individual of their enrollment under such plan (or waiver) pursuant to such continuous eligibility provision and of the remaining duration of the applicable period of continuous eligibility.
by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (W) as subparagraphs (J) through (X), respectively; and
by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following new subparagraph:
Section 1002(a)(2) of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a note) is amended by striking shall take effect with respect to
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following:
shall apply—
beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of the Keep Kids Covered Act, with respect to foster youth not described in subparagraph (A).