Keep Kids Covered Act
Sponsored By: Senator Michael Bennet
Introduced
Summary
Extending continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children and former foster youth. This bill would lengthen continuous eligibility windows, add annual contact checks, and set staged start dates to keep more kids enrolled.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Deemed newborns in Medicaid and CHIP would have continuous eligibility until age 6. The bill also preserves continuous coverage for children ages 6 through 18 so they do not face frequent reenrollment checks.
- Former foster youth: Individuals who qualify as former foster youth would remain eligible for Medicaid until age 26. The bill sets phased effective dates including a Jan 1, 2023 start for youth who turn 18 on or after that date and a 180-day post-enactment start for others.
- State programs and administration: States would have to obtain and verify contact information at least annually for people kept on through continuous eligibility and inform them about their enrollment and remaining coverage time. The main coverage changes in the bill would take effect 1 year after enactment.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Extended Medicaid for former foster youth
If enacted, former foster youth who qualify could remain on Medicaid until they turn 26 or leave the State. The bill would set timing rules so some youth get this coverage earlier. It would apply beginning January 1, 2023 for youth who attain age 18 on or after that date. For other foster youth, it would begin 180 days after enactment. Coverage would still end earlier if they stop living in the State.
Longer Medicaid and CHIP coverage for kids
If enacted, the bill would lengthen continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage for many children. Deemed-newborn coverage could last up to six years. Children under age 6 would stay eligible until they turn 6 or leave the State. Children ages 6–18 would get 24 months of continuous Medicaid coverage instead of 12. CHIP rules would match the longer newborn coverage and allow a child who becomes eligible for full Medicaid to move to Medicaid for the rest of the six years. States would also have to update contact information at least once a year and tell families how long the continuous coverage will last.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Michael Bennet
CO • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in