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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB151

Continuous Medical Assistance for Children Under Six

Last scannedSep 20, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This bill allows children under six in Alaska to keep their medical assistance benefits until they turn six, but only if the federal government approves or says approval is not needed by July 1, 2027.

What it does

  • Requires the state department to let eligible children under age six stay on medical assistance until they are six years old.
  • Allows the Department of Health to let people aged six through nineteen keep benefits for up to 11 months after becoming eligible or until they turn 19, whichever comes first.
  • Directs the Department of Health to ask the federal government for permission or waivers needed to make these changes work.
  • Sets a deadline of July 1, 2027, for the federal government to approve the plan or say approval is not necessary before this law starts.

Who it affects

  • Children under six years old who are eligible for medical assistance in Alaska.
  • People between ages six and nineteen who receive medical assistance benefits.
  • The Department of Health, which must submit requests to the federal government.
  • The United States Department of Health and Human Services, which decides if approval is needed.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not start working unless the United States Department of Health and Human Services acts by July 1, 2027.
  • It is unknown if or when the federal government will approve the necessary waivers or state plan changes.

Plain language

Terms to know

Medical Assistance
Government health coverage for people with low income in Alaska.
Continuous Eligibility
A rule that lets a person keep their benefits without having to reapply or check if they still qualify during a set time period.
Waiver
Special permission from the federal government to change how state rules work for health coverage programs.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: CHILDREN UNDER AGE 6 An Act relating to continuous eligibility for medical assistance for children under six years of age; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FRIER1560
  2. (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE878
  3. (H) FN3: (DOH)878
  4. (H) FN2: (DOH)878
  5. (H) FN1: (DOH)878
  6. (H) NR: PRAX, SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE878
  7. (H) DP: FIELDS, GRAY, MEARS, MINA878
  8. (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 4DP 3NR878
  9. (H) Minutes (HHSS)Min
  10. (H) Moved CSHB 151(HSS) Out of CommitteeText
  11. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106Text
  12. (H) Minutes (HHSS)Min
  13. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --Text
  14. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106Text
  15. (H) Minutes (HHSS)Min
  16. (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>Text
  17. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106Text
  18. (H) HSS, FIN526
  19. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS526