Casey Introduces Bill to Fix Glitch that Could Kick Former Foster Youth Off of Medicaid

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has introduced legislation, The Health Insurance for Former Foster Youth Act, that would fix a glitch in the current healthcare system that could kick former foster youth off Medicaid if they move to a different state. Casey's bill would extend Medicaid coverage to age 26 for all former foster youth who were in foster care on their 18th birthday and were already enrolled in Medicaid, no matter what state they live in. Congress intended to provide this coverage through the Affordable Care Act, to create parity between these individuals and young adults who can stay on their parent's health insurance until the age of 26. However, the law has been implemented in a way that leaves some former foster youth out if they move to another state.

"A former foster youth's ability to access healthcare coverage shouldn't depend on their zip code," Senator Casey said. "This is a commonsense fix so that former foster youth have the same ability to access health coverage as other young Americans."

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