BILL NUMBER: S1010
SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to retroactive
enrollment in the Child Health Insurance Plan
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would retroactively enroll children in the Child Health Insur-
ance Plan to the first day of the month of their application upon
approval.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill amends section 2511 of the Public Health Law to
retroactively enroll a child who meets the eligibility criteria set
forth in this section, to the first day of the month in which the appli-
cation was submitted upon approval. This bill amends the Public Health
Law to allow a child who is eligible for subsidy payments under this
section to be enrolled retroactively to the first day of the month in
which the application was submitted upon approval.
Section 2 of this bill is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Child Health Plus is a health insurance plan for kids statewide. Chil-
dren must be under the age of 19 and be residents of New York State.
Eligibility also depends on gross family income. Children who are not
eligible for Medicaid can enroll in Child Health Plus if they don't
already have health insurance and are not eligible for dependent cover-
age under the public employees' state health benefits plan.
Recently, the state made the decision that parents of newborns applying
for Child Health Plus have their newborns be retroactively enrolled to
the time of their birth upon receiving approval. This alleviated count-
less families of financial worry when dealing with their newborn's
medical and health needs. This bill takes this a step further, and
ensures that all parents of children applying are retroactively enrolled
in Child Health Plus if they are indeed found eligible. All families and
children should be afforded the necessary financial protections of Child
Health Plus, and no child's health should be affected by the duration of
the application process.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S4885 Referred to Health.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This law will take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1010: 2511 public health law, 2511(2) public health law