Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act

Bill: 119-s-2077
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Introduced: 2025-06-12
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2025-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-06-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act</strong></p><p>This bill modifies provisions relating to the coverage of former foster youths under Medicaid.</p><p>Under current law, a state Medicaid program must cover former foster youths until the age of 26 if the youths were in a state's foster care system at the age of 18 and were enrolled in a state's Medicaid program while in foster care. The bill requires state Medicaid programs to also cover former foster youths who were placed in a legal guardianship with a kinship caregiver or were emancipated from foster care before the age of 18. The bill repeals the provision that requires former foster youths to have been enrolled in a state Medicaid program while in foster care in order to qualify for Medicaid coverage until the age of 26.</p><p>The bill also requires states to establish Medicaid outreach and enrollment programs for former foster youths.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2077 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 12, 2025 Mr. Welch (for himself, Ms. Alsobrooks , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Luján , Mr. Wyden , and Ms. Rosen ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure health insurance coverage continuity for former foster youth.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act . 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 to read as follows: (IX) who— (aa) are under 26 years of age; (bb) are not described in and are not enrolled under any of subclauses (I) through (VII) of this clause or are described in any of such subclauses but have income that exceeds the level of income applicable under the State plan for eligibility to enroll for medical assistance under such subclause; and (cc) were in foster care under the 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 were in such care at any age but subsequently left such care to enter into a legal guardianship with a kinship caregiver (without regard to whether kinship guardianship payments are being made on behalf of the child under this part), or were emancipated from such care prior to attaining age 18; . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2026, and shall apply with respect to individuals who attain 18 years of age on or after that date. 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 (86), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (2) in paragraph (87)(D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (87)(D) the following new paragraph: (88) not later than January 1, 2026, 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 eligible for medical assistance under the State plan under paragraph (10)(A)(i)(IX) in accordance with best practices established by the Secretary. .