# 119-s-2077: Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act

119-s-2077, Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2077
- As of: 2026-10-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2077
- Congress: 119
- Title: Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-18

## Summary

**Expands Medicaid coverage for former foster youth up to age 26.** It would add people who entered legal guardianship with a kinship caregiver or who emancipated before 18, and remove the rule that they must have been enrolled in Medicaid while in foster care. - Former foster youth — People under 26 who were in foster care at 18, who later entered kinship guardianship, or who emancipated before 18 would be eligible for Medicaid if they meet the age and income rules. - State Medicaid agencies — Would need to update eligibility rules and enrollment systems to cover the newly eligible groups and apply the same income and age checks. - Outreach and enrollment — States must establish outreach and enrollment programs by January 1, 2026, coordinated with the agency that administers foster care under Title IV-E and following best practices from the Secretary. - Timing and scope — The expansion applies to individuals who attain 18 on or after January 1, 2026. - Funding note — The bill does not include explicit new funding authorization or appropriation language for the required outreach program.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-06-17T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More Medicaid for former foster youth: benefit, high. If enacted, this bill would let some former foster youth get Medicaid until age 26. You would qualify if you are under 26 and meet certain income or enrollment rules. One qualifying history is being in foster care at age 18, or a higher age the state chose. Another is leaving foster care to a kinsh…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-s-2077 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2077)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2077 (as of 2026-10-18).