Healthcare (Medicaid · Children)

This bill expands medical assistance coverage to individuals who were in foster care and remain in the system past age 18, extending eligibility up to age 26 for those who were enrolled in Medicaid while in care. It modifies the definition of "child in foster care" to include youth for whom permanent custody is transferred to relatives after age ten, and requires social services agencies to notify children in foster care six months before their 18th birthday about extended care options. The legislation also updates eligibility requirements for continuing in foster care past 18, allowing youth to remain in the system until age 21 if they are completing education, participating in employment programs, working at least 80 hours monthly, or have a medical condition preventing them from meeting other criteria. Additionally, the bill mandates that independent living plans be updated for youth in foster care immediately before their 18th birthday and allows individuals who left foster care before age 18 to reenter the system with support services up to age 21.