HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3499        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Lawn, Jr.

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to promote continuity of health coverage for children.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3499        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1214 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to promote continuity of health coverage for children.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(17)(a) Residents of the commonwealth under age 19 who are enrolled in MassHealth shall qualify for at least 12 months of continuous eligibility.

(b) Continuous eligibility established under clause (a) shall not apply in the following circumstances: (i) the child turns 19, except when MassHealth provides continuous eligibility to residents over age 19; (ii) the child ceases to be a state resident; (iii) the child or the child’s representative requests voluntary disenrollment; (iv) eligibility is determined to have been erroneously granted because of agency error or fraud, abuse, or perjury attributed to the child or the child’s representative; or (v) the child is deceased.

(c) The executive office of health and human services shall maximize federal financial participation for the coverage and benefits under this subsection; provided, however, that coverage and benefits provided under this subsection shall not only be contingent upon the availability of federal financial participation.