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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 6687
Emergency Certification
AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN
AND ADULTS WITHOUT HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to extend
eligibility for medical assistance, subject to income limits and within
available appropriations, to certain groups of people without legal
immigration status or regardless of immigration status. The bill
extends this coverage to (1) children under age 9 and (2) women for 12
months after giving birth.
The bill also requires the DSS commissioner to amend the
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) state plan to provide
medical assistance for prenatal care through the “unborn child
option.” This is a state option that allows states to consider an unborn
child a low-income child eligible for prenatal care coverage if other
CHIP eligibility requirements are met.
The bill additionally requires the DSS commissioner to develop
four-year plans to phase in medical assistance for (1) income-eligible
children ages 9 to 18, regardless of immigration status and (2) adults
with household income up to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL)
who do not currently qualify for medical assistance due to household
income. The commissioner must report on the plans to the
Appropriations, Human Services, and Insurance and Real Estate
committees by January 1, 2022.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2022, except that the requirement to
extend medical assistance to children under age 9 is effective October
1, 2021, and the provisions on four-year plans are effective upon
passage. 2021HB-06687-R00-BA.DOCX
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§§ 1 & 3 — CHILDREN UNDER AGE 9
The bill requires the DSS commissioner, beginning January 1, 2022,
to provide medical assistance, within available appropriations, to
children under age 9, regardless of immigration status, with household
incomes (1) up to 201% of FPL with no asset limit and (2) over 201% of
FPL and up to 323% of FPL.
§ 2 — POSTPARTUM CARE FOR WOMEN
The bill requires the DSS commissioner, on or after April 1, 2022, to
provide medical assistance, within available appropriations, for
postpartum care to women for 12 months after birth who (1) do not
have legal immigration status and (2) have household incomes up to
263% of FPL.
§ 4 — UNBORN CHILD OPTION FOR PRENATAL CARE
The bill requires the DSS commissioner to amend the CHIP state
plan to provide medical assistance for prenatal care through the
“unborn child option.” This is a state option that allows states to
consider an unborn child a low-income child eligible for coverage of
prenatal care if other CHIP eligibility requirements are met. According
to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the
requirement to meet other CHIP eligibility criteria applies to the child
and not the mother.
The commissioner must provide medical assistance for prenatal care
through this option by April 1, 2022. CHIP is jointly funded by the
state and federal government and is administered by DSS according to
federal requirements. The state provides CHIP coverage under
HUSKY B, which covers children in families with household incomes
between 196% and 318% of the federal poverty limit.
§ 5 — PLANS TO EXTEND MEDI CAL ASSISTANCE
The bill requires the DSS commissioner to develop four-year plans
to phase in medical assistance for the following two groups:
1. income-eligible children, ages 9 to 18, regardless of immigration
status; and 2021HB-06687-R00-BA.DOCX
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2. adults with household income up to 200% of FPL who do not
currently qualify for medical assistance due to household
income.
The bill requires the DSS commissioner to (1) consult with the Office
of Health Strategy and the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange to
develop the plans and (2) by January 1, 2022, report on the plans’
provisions to the Appropriations, Insurance and Real Estate, and
Human Services committees.
The bill requires the plan for expanding medical assistance to
income-eligible children ages 9 to 18 to include the following
information:
1. the age groups that would receive medical assistance in each
fiscal year starting with FY 23, and necessary appropriations to
provide this assistance;
2. income eligibility criteria and health care coverage consistent
with medical assistance the state provides under Medicaid and
CHIP; and
3. recommendations for identifying and enrolling eligible
children.
The plan for expanding medical assistance coverage for adults with
household income up to 200% of FPL must include the following
information:
1. household income caps for those who would receive medical
assistance in each year starting in FY 23, and necessary
appropriations to provide this assistance;
2. health care coverage consistent with medical assistance the state
provides under Medicaid generally and HUSKY D specifically;
and
3. recommendations for identifying and enrolling eligible adults. 2021HB-06687-R00-BA.DOCX
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BACKGROUND
Related Bills
sSB 910 (File 130), favorably reported by the Appropriations and
Human Services committees, requires DSS to extend Medicaid
coverage for postpartum care to 12 months after a mother gives birth.
sSB 911 (File 115), favorably reported by the Human Services
Committee, requires DSS to amend the CHIP plan to provide medical
assistance for prenatal care through the unborn child option.
SB 956 (File 516), favorably reported by the Appropriations and
Human Services committees, requires DSS to provide medical
assistance, within available appropriations, to people regardless of
their immigration status, as long as they otherwise meet income
eligibility guidelines.
Federal Poverty Level
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services establishes the
FPL (“federal poverty level”) annually. Table 1 shows the number of
people in a household and the annual FPL amounts for 2021 at various
percentages, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Table 1: FPL Amounts at Various Percentages
Number of
People in
Household
100% 200% 201% 263% 323%
1 $12,880 $25,760 $25,889 $33,874 $41,602
2 $17,420 $34,840 $35,014 $45,815 $56,267
3 $21,960 $43,920 $44,140 $57,755 $70,931