This act extends Medicaid coverage to former foster youth up to age 26 and mandates state outreach programs to facilitate their enrollment starting in 2026.
Peter Welch
Senator
VT
The Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act aims to ensure continuous Medicaid coverage for young adults who aged out of state foster care until they reach age 26. This legislation amends eligibility rules to secure medical assistance for these former foster youth, provided they meet specific criteria regarding their time in state care. Furthermore, the bill mandates that states establish proactive outreach and enrollment programs, coordinated with child welfare agencies, to help eligible individuals sign up for these benefits starting in 2026.
Former Foster Youth Get Guaranteed Medicaid Until Age 26, But Not Until 2026
The new Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act aims to close a critical health insurance gap for young adults who have aged out of state care. Starting January 1, 2026, this bill guarantees continuous Medicaid coverage until age 26 for anyone who was in state-responsible foster care when they turned 18, was under a kinship guardianship, or was legally emancipated before turning 18. This is a big deal because right now, many former foster youth lose their healthcare just as they are trying to navigate college, entry-level jobs, and independent living.
The Health Coverage Safety Net
Section 2 of the bill is where the heavy lifting happens, amending the Social Security Act to lock in this coverage. Think of it like this: If you’re a 22-year-old former foster youth working a service job that doesn't offer benefits, this bill ensures you can still see a doctor without worrying about massive medical bills. The catch is the start date; this extension only applies to individuals who turn 18 on or after January 1, 2026. If you turn 18 in late 2025, you miss out on this specific provision, which means a whole cohort of young adults won't benefit right away.
There’s one important eligibility fine print: the extended coverage is generally guaranteed, but it does have an income check if you qualify for Medicaid under other categories. If your income is too high for those other programs, you might still face a hurdle. For most young adults transitioning out of care, however, this provision acts as a crucial safety net during those financially precarious early twenties.
No More Hiding the Ball: Mandatory Outreach
It’s one thing to offer a benefit, and another to make sure people know about it. Section 3 tackles this head-on by mandating that states set up specific outreach and enrollment programs by January 1, 2026. This isn't just a suggestion; state Medicaid agencies must actively team up with the state’s foster care agency (the folks who run the Title IV-E program) to find eligible youth and get them signed up.
This means less bureaucratic runaround for young people. Instead of expecting a 19-year-old trying to balance work and school to navigate complex government forms, the state is now required to proactively reach out and enroll them. The goal is to maximize enrollment using the best practices set by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For states, this means more coordination and potentially higher administrative costs, but it ensures the policy actually reaches the people it’s intended to help.