Relates to the date of enrollment in the child health insurance plan program; repealer

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Christopher Ryan says this is needed

The Child Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) provides low-cost to free health insurance to children under age 19 who live in New York State and do not qualify for Medicaid. CHIP is administered by the New York State Depart- ment of Health and funded jointly by New York State and the federal government. CHIP covers most essential health services, including: doctor visits (including well-child visits); immunizations; prescription drugs; emergency services; hospital care; dental and vision care; mental health services; and specialist visits. This program ensures that chil- dren in New York get preventative care, avoid untreated illnesses, have access to dental and mental health services they may otherwise not be to afford, and importantly, CHIPs reduces emergency room overuse/dependence. While CHIP accepts applications for enrollment year- round, enrollment is not currently retroactive, which can leave a child with nearly a month-long administrative gap in enrollment between the date requested and the actual date of enrollment. This bill would remove this gap by providing for retroactive CHIP enrollment, to the date of the first of the month in which the child was considered eligible for enrollment. PRIOR HISTORY: New Bill

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.