All Kids Health Insurance Bill
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The Rhode Island General Assembly is considering legislation that would expand affordable health insurance options to many of the 18,000 uninsured children in the state.
The three main components of the
All Kids Health Insurance Program bill (H-5519 & S-735) are the following:
- Expand RIte Care eligibility to children whose families earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
- Initiate a RIte Care buy-in program for children whose families earn higher than 300% FPL.
- Restore RIte Care coverage for lawfully residing immigrant children.
Federal incentives included in the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act provide financial support for Rhode Island to take steps to make sure that all children have health care coverage. For more information on Rhode Island's All Kids Health Insurance Program bill, view Key Provisions of the Proposed All Kids Health Insurance Act, as well as Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's testimony on H-5519.
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Governor Carcieri Releases Proposed FY2010 Budget
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 | Two articles in Governor
Carcieri's proposed $7.62 billion budget for fiscal year 2010 relate to the RIte Care health insurance program: Article 28 contains proposals to maximize federal contributions to RIte Care through the federal Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), including restoring coverage for lawfully residing immigrant children who meet income eligibility guidelines for RIte Care. Article 28 also authorizes the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) to maximize federal funding available for children and pregnant women and to reduce barriers to RIte Share, Rhode Island's premium assistance program for eligible families who have employer-sponsored coverage. Article 40 proposes to eliminate dental services for 38,000 parents who are enrolled in RIte Care. For more information and analysis on provisions contained within the proposed FY2010 state budget, view Supplemental FY09 and FY10 Budget Proposals:Implications for Health Insurance for Children and Families in Rhode Island, prepared by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. |
Proposed RIte Care Premium Relief Bills Would Lower Family Health Care Costs
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT has been monitoring the effects of increased RIte Care premiums instituted last year. The number of children and parents sanctioned for failure to pay premiums has increased from an average of 264 individuals per month in 2008 to 438 individuals in February 2009 and 386 individuals in March 2009. Sanctioned enrollees lose RIte Care health insurance for a period of four months before they are permitted to re-enroll. View Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's analysis on the impact of RIte Care premiums here. The General Assembly is considering legislation
( H-5841 and S-673) that would restore RIte Care premiums to last year's levels in order to keep the program affordable. The legislation would remove the premium for families between 133% and 149% FPL that was first instituted last year, and would limit premiums for families earning 150% FPL and higher to 3% of their total annual income. View testimony from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT on H-5841. |
