An Act promoting continuity of health coverage for children

This bill (SD 1812) ensures children under 19 enrolled in MassHealth (Massachusetts' Medicaid program) maintain health coverage for at least 12 consecutive months without needing to reapply. It directly affects low-income children and families using MassHealth by guaranteeing continuous eligibility, unless specific exceptions occur - such as the child turning 19, moving out of state, voluntarily disenrolling, or if coverage was granted due to fraud. The bill requires the state to maximize federal funding for this coverage but clarifies that benefits won’t depend solely on federal funding availability. This change aims to reduce coverage gaps for children during routine eligibility reviews.