Save Children’s Coverage Act

To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to allow States to provide for extended periods of continuous coverage under the Medicaid and CHIP programs for children, to provide a period of continuous eligibility under the Medicaid program for certain adults, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Save Children’s Coverage Act 2. Optional extension of continuous eligibility for children under Medicaid and CHIP (a) Under the Medicaid Program Section 1902(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e) (17) Optional extension of continuous eligibility for children (A) Children under age 6 At the option of the State, the State plan (or waiver of such State plan) may 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 may 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 age 6 through 18 At the option of the State, the State plan (or waiver of such State plan) may provide that an individual who is over the age of 5 and under the age of 19, and who is determined to be eligible for benefits under a State plan (or waiver of such plan) approved under this title, may remain eligible for such benefits until the earlier of— (i) the end of the 24-month period beginning on the date of such determination; (ii) the time that such individual attains the age of 19; or (iii) the date that such individual ceases to be a resident of such State. . (b) Under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Section 2107(e)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1) (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (L) through (U) as subparagraphs (M) through (V), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (K) the following new subparagraph: (L) Section 1902(e)(17) (relating to the State option to extend continuous eligibility for children under the age of 19). . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the first day following the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) 3. Option to provide continuous eligibility for certain individuals under Medicaid (a) In general Section 1902(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e) (18) Option for continuous eligibility for certain individuals (A) In general At the option of the State, the State plan (or waiver of such State plan) may provide that an eligible individual (as defined in subparagraph (B)) who is determined to be eligible for benefits under a State plan (or waiver of such plan) approved under this title, may remain eligible for such benefits until the earlier of— (i) the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of such determination; or (ii) the date that such individual ceases to be a resident of such State. (B) Eligible individual defined For purposes of this paragraph, the term eligible individual (i) whose income does not exceed 28 percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981); (ii) who, in the 2 years prior to such individual’s application for medical assistance under a plan under this title, experienced homelessness (as defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act); or (iii) who, in the 2 years prior to such individual’s application for medical assistance under a plan under this title, was incarcerated in a prison or psychiatric hospital. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the first day following the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) 4. Data verification requirement for new waivers (a) Program waivers Section 1915 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396n (1) in subsection (b), by striking The Secretary Subject to subsection (m), the Secretary (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking The Secretary may by waiver Subject to subsection (m), the Secretary may by waiver (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (m) Data verification requirement for new waivers In the case of a waiver granted under this section on or after the first day following the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act, as a condition of receiving such waiver, a State shall agree to conduct an annual review of the demographic information of individuals enrolled under a State plan under this title, including the names, dates of birth, and contact information for such individuals. . (b) Research and demonstration waivers Section 1115 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1315 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting subject to subsection (g), the Secretary (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g) In the case of a waiver granted under this section on or after the first day following the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act, as a condition of receiving such waiver, a State shall agree to conduct an annual review of the demographic information of individuals enrolled under a State plan under this title, including the names, dates of birth, and contact information for such individuals. .

Summary: Save Children's Coverage Act This bill allows states to provide for extended coverage under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) of children after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It also allows for extended Medicaid coverage of certain low-income, formerly homeless, or formerly incarcerated adults. Specifically, after the emergency period ends, states may provide for continued Medicaid or CHIP coverage of children under the age of six until the child turns six or is no longer a resident of the state, whichever is earlier. For children ages 6 to 18, the state may provide for continued coverage for two years after the child is deemed eligible, until the child turns 19, or until the child is no longer a resident of the state, whichever is earlier. States may also provide for continued Medicaid coverage of adults whose income does not exceed 28% of the federal poverty line or who were homeless or incarcerated in a prison or psychiatric hospital within the two years prior to applying for Medicaid; coverage may be provided for 12 months after the individual is deemed eligible or until the individual is no longer a resident, whichever is earlier. The bill also requires states to annually review the demographics of Medicaid enrollees, including contact information, as a condition of receiving a waiver from Medicaid requirements (e.g., Section 1115 demonstration waivers) after the emergency period ends.