119-s2077

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2077 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2077

 To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure health 
 insurance coverage continuity for former foster youth.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 June 12, 2025

 Mr. Welch (for himself, Ms. Alsobrooks, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Lujan, 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.

 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 ``Expanded Coverage for Former Foster 
Youth Act''.

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 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.

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

    (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.''.
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