Healthcare advocates believe Arizona’s decision to broaden the eligibility requirements for Medicaid insurance for kids is a good one for a state where the percentage of uninsured children has been steadily rising.
Arizona’s KidsCare program will now be available to a maximum of 10,000 additional kids thanks to a modification in state legislation that was approved by the federal government on Friday, as revealed by Governor Katie Hobbs on Tuesday. According to Hobbs, increasing the availability of healthcare is a key component of her administration’s policies.
Based on a data sheet from the state, the annual revenue ceiling for the KidsCare program will increase to 225% of the federal poverty line, which translates to a yearly family income of a maximum of $70,200 for a household of 4.
According to Hobbs’ office, the adjustment will go into effect on April 1 and the latest qualified families can start registering on March 1.
“Reasonable health care for children translates into a lot more than simply a better life,” Hobbs urged reporters assembled at the Glendale Clinic of the Mountain Park Health Center. “Better high school and university graduation rates translate into a higher likelihood of finding a well-paying job for them.”
KidsCare is a Medicaid program designed for children under the age of 19 whose parents make too much money to be eligible for standard Medicaid yet don’t have enough to pay for commercial insurance, despite subsidies, such as what’s available on the federal Affordable Care Act marketplace. Families enrolled in the program must pay a monthly premium, which varies from $10 to $50 for each child.
According to AHCCCS authorities on Tuesday, the growth of KidsCare is allotted $5.5 million within general fund revenues from the state’s 2024 budget, and an additional $6.6 million for the fiscal year 2025.
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