I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4998 
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure health insurance 
coverage continuity for former foster youth. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2018 
Ms. BASS (for herself, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Ms. CLARKE of 
New York, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure 
health insurance coverage continuity for former foster youth. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Health Insurance for 
Former Foster Youth Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. COVERAGE CONTINUITY FOR FORMER FOSTER 
CARE CHILDREN UP TO AGE 26. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) of 
the 
Social 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX)) is amended— 
(1) in item (bb)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘are not described in or en-
rolled under’’ and inserting ‘‘are not described 
in and are not enrolled under’’; and 
(B) by striking the semicolon at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(2) in item (cc), by striking ‘‘responsibility of 
the 
State’’ 
and 
all 
that 
follows 
through 
‘‘475(8)(B)(iii); and’’ and inserting ‘‘responsibility 
of a State on the date of attaining 18 years of age 
(or such higher age as such State has elected under 
section 475(8)(B)(iii)), or who were in such care on 
the date of attaining 14 years of age but subse-
quently left such care to enter into a legal guardian-
ship with a kinship caregiver (without regard to 
whether kinship guardianship payments are being 
made on behalf of the child under this part)’’; and 
(3) by striking item (dd). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
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SEC. 
3. 
OUTREACH 
EFFORTS 
FOR 
ENROLLMENT 
OF 
FORMER FOSTER CHILDREN. 
Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396a(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (82), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (83), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (83) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(84) not later than January 1, 2019, establish 
an outreach and enrollment program, in coordination 
with the State agency responsible for administering 
the State plan under part E of title IV and any 
other appropriate or interested agencies, designed to 
increase the enrollment of individuals who are eligi-
ble for medical assistance under the State plan 
under paragraph (10)(A)(i)(IX) in accordance with 
best practices established by the Secretary.’’. 
Æ 
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