Program Design Snapshot

12-Month Continuous Eligibility

This brief examines the benefits and issues surrounding continuous eligibility that allows children, ages 0–18, to maintain Medicaid or State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) coverage for up to one full year, even if families experience a change in income or family status. The benefits of continuous eligibility work similar to employer-based coverage. Families enroll a child into coverage once a year eliminating the need to repeatedly complete renewal forms or report income changes during that time period. As a result, 12-month continuous coverage ensures that children stay enrolled and do not lose coverage unnecessarily. This issue brief discusses other key issues such as: 

  • Coverage costs
  • Medicaid/SCHIP coordination
  • Administration.

 

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