S. 2077 — Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act

This section revises Medicaid eligibility for former foster youth by requiring states to provide full-scope coverage to individuals under 26 years of age who were in foster care under state responsibility on the date of attaining 18 years of age (or such higher age as the state has elected under section 475(8)(B)(iii))—changed from 19 years of age—who are not otherwise eligible or enrolled under other mandatory Medicaid categories due to income or other limits, and by newly including individuals who entered kinship legal guardianship or were emancipated from foster care prior to age 18. (As background, this provision modifies the former foster youth Medicaid eligibility category added by the Affordable Care Act, which guarantees Medicaid coverage up to age 26 regardless of income for qualifying individuals.) The amendment takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to individuals attaining 18 years of age on or after that date.

This section requires state Medicaid plans to establish, not later than January 1, 2026, an outreach and enrollment program—in coordination with the state child welfare agency (i.e., administering part E of title IV of the Social Security Act) and other relevant agencies—to increase enrollment of former foster youth eligible for full-scope Medicaid coverage through age 25 under plan requirement §1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX), in accordance with best practices established by the Secretary. (Thus, states must use Secretary guidance to identify and enroll individuals who aged out of foster care while receiving title IV-E assistance.)