The Consolidated Appropriations Act requires all states to provide 12-month continuous eligibility to children under age 19 in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beginning Jan. 1, 2024. “Continuous eligibility” means that an enrollee can keep their coverage for 12 months after their eligibility determination (or redetermination) regardless of changes in household circumstances, like income fluctuations. Continuous eligibility helps improve health outcomes and is associated with improved coverage rates, reductions in gaps in coverage, a lower probability of being in fair or poor health, and an increase in the average length of enrollment. While half of states already provided 12-month continuous eligibility for children enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP prior to Jan. 1, 2024, this policy will help ensure that millions more children in Medicaid or CHIP receive the benefits of yearlong periods of uninterrupted coverage.
