SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1812        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sal N. DiDomenico

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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 promoting continuity of health coverage for children.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1812        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  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 promoting 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 shall be amended by adding the following section:-

Section 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 subsection (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 section; provided, however, that coverage and benefits provided under this section shall not only be contingent upon the availability of federal financial participation.