[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2496 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2496
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 29, 2025
Mr. Bennet introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Keep Kids Covered Act''.
SEC. 2. REQUIRING STATES TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY FOR
CHILDREN UNDER MEDICAID AND CHIP.
(a) Continuous Eligibility for Deemed Newborns Until Age 6.--
(1) Medicaid.--Section 1902(e)(4) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(4)) is amended by striking ``one year''
and inserting ``6 years''.
(2) CHIP.--Section 2112(e) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1397ll(e)) is amended by striking ``1 year of age'' and
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)''.
(b) Continuous Eligibility for Children Under Age 19 and Former
Foster Youth.--
(1) Medicaid.--Section 1902(e)(12) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(12)) is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``1 year
of continuous'' and inserting ``Continuous'';
(B) in the text preceding subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``has attained the age of 6 and'' after ``an
individual who'';
(C) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the 12-month
period'' and inserting ``the 24-month period'';
(D) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C)
as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and
adjusting the margins accordingly;
(E) by striking ``The State plan'' and inserting:
``(A) Children under age 6.--The State plan (or
waiver of such State plan) shall provide that an
individual who is under the age of 6 and who is
determined to be eligible for benefits under a State
plan (or waiver of such plan) approved under this title
under subsection (a)(10)(A) shall remain eligible for
such benefits until the earlier of--
``(i) the time that such individual attains
the age of 6; or
``(ii) the date that such individual ceases
to be a resident of such State.
``(B) Children ages 6 through 18.--The State
plan''; and
(F) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) Former foster youth.--The State plan (or
waiver of such State plan) shall provide that an
individual who is determined to be eligible for
benefits under a State plan (or waiver of such plan)
approved under this title under subsection
(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) shall remain eligible for such
benefits until the earlier of--
``(i) the time that such individual attains
the age of 26; or
``(ii) the date that such individual ceases
to be a resident of such State.''.
(2) CHIP.--Section 2107(e)(1)(L) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)(L)), as redesignated by section
71103(b)(1) of Public Law 119-21, is amended--
(A) by striking ``1 year of''; and
(B) by striking ``12-month'' and inserting
``applicable''.
(c) Updating Contact Information During Continuous Eligibility
Period.--
(1) Medicaid.--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--
(A) in paragraph (88), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (89), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (89) the following
new paragraph:
``(90) provide for a process--
``(A) 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
``(B) 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.''.
(2) CHIP.--Section 2107(e)(1) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)), as redesignated by sections
71103(b)(1) and 71109(b) of Public Law 119-21, is amended--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (W)
as subparagraphs (J) through (X), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the
following new subparagraph:
``(I) Section 1902(a)(90) (relating to the
verification of contact information and provision of
information regarding enrollment during a period of
continuous eligibility).''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this section.
SEC. 3. ADJUSTING APPLICATION OF PROVISION PROVIDING COVERAGE
CONTINUITY FOR FORMER FOSTER CHILDREN UP TO AGE 26 UNDER
MEDICAID.
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--
``(A) beginning January 1, 2023, with respect to
foster youth who attain 18 years of age on or after
such date; and
``(B) 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).''.
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