Keep Kids Covered Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2496
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T07:00:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Keep Kids Covered Act," amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP) of the Social Security Act. Its goal is to extend continuous health coverage eligibility for certain children and former foster youth, reducing the need for frequent re-enrollment and minimizing coverage gaps.
Key Provisions
- Continuous eligibility for deemed newborns: Extends eligibility from 1 year to 6 years under both Medicaid and CHIP, with an option to transfer to Medicaid if eligibility changes.
- Eligibility for children ages 6 through 18: Requires states to provide 24 months of continuous eligibility (up from 12 months) for children who have reached age 6, until they turn 19 or leave the state.
- Eligibility for children under age 6: Mandates coverage until age 6 or until the child leaves the state.
- Eligibility for former foster youth: Provides continuous coverage until age 26 or until the individual leaves the state.
- Contact information updates: Requires states to annually verify and update contact details for enrollees in continuous eligibility periods longer than 12 months, and to notify them of their enrollment status and remaining coverage duration.
- Effective dates: Most changes take effect 1 year after enactment; adjustments for former foster youth coverage apply starting 180 days after enactment for certain cases, with earlier dates for others.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces the previous 1-year continuous eligibility limit for newborns with a 6-year period.
- Modifies the 12-month continuous eligibility rule for older children to a 24-month period and adds new categories for younger children and former foster youth.
- Introduces a new state plan requirement for annual contact verification and notifications during extended eligibility periods.
- Adjusts the phase-in timeline for coverage of former foster children up to age 26 under Medicaid.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: States must revise Medicaid and CHIP plans, implement new verification processes, and handle potential transfers between programs, which may increase administrative workload.
- Citizens: Eligible children and families could experience fewer coverage interruptions, leading to more stable access to healthcare services.
- International relations: None identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Children and families enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.
- Former foster youth up to age 26.
- State agencies responsible for administering Medicaid and CHIP programs.
- Healthcare providers serving these populations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill directly amends the Social Security Act, requiring updates to state plans and potentially affecting federal-state funding relationships under Medicaid and CHIP.
- No constitutional issues are raised in the text; changes focus on eligibility rules without altering core program structures.
- The legislation builds on prior laws, such as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, by extending timelines for foster youth coverage.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Keep Kids Covered Act — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (7 pages)