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COVER Now Act

Bill Number
H.R. 608
Origin Chamber
House
Congress
119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area
Health
Status
Introduced
Latest Action
2025-01-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated
2026-02-04T05:06:18Z

Official Summary

Cover Outstanding Vulnerable Expansion-eligible Residents Now Act or the COVER Now Act

This bill establishes a demonstration program to allow local governments to provide health benefits to the Medicaid expansion population in states that have not expanded Medicaid.

Under the program, local governments may provide coverage for individuals who are newly eligible for Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (i.e., the Medicaid expansion population) for a maximum of 10 years, or until their respective states expand Medicaid. The bill provides a 100% federal matching rate for the first three years of program participation.

The bill prohibits states from taking certain actions against participating localities, such as withholding funding, increasing taxes, or restricting provider participation. States that violate these requirements are subject to certain funding penalties.

Sponsor

Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

Cosponsors (35)

Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Turner, Sylvester [D-TX-18], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]

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