Child health insurance program.

WORKING DRAFT
2009
STATE OF
WYOMING
09LSO-0023.E1

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0039

Child health insurance program.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Massie, Decaria, Hastert and Ross and Representative(s) Davison, Hammons, Jorgensen and Millin

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
the child health insurance program; increasing the maximum family income level for eligibility in the program;
authorizing state funding for coverage as specified;
authorizing families or guardians
with higher incomes
to buy program
coverage for their children
;
providing appropriation
s
;

authorizing a position;
and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

W.S. 35
‑
25
‑
101
and
35
‑
25
‑
103 are amended to read:

35
‑
25
‑
101.

Uninsured child health insurance program.

There is created a child health insurance program for

eligible children and
f
amilies

with a gross monthly income at or below

one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty level, until July 1, 2005, and thereafter, for families with a gross monthly income at or below two

hundred percent (200
%) of the federal poverty level

as provided in W.S. 35
‑
25
‑
103
and 35
‑
25
‑
111
.

35
‑
25
‑
103.

Child health insurance program eligibility.

(a)

Subject to approval of the state plan by the United States secretary of health and human services, and subject to available state and federal funding the department shall provide a health insurance plan offered through a private insurance company licensed by the insurance commissioner to write insurance in Wyoming for an eligible child whose monthly gross family income is not more than
one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty level, until July 1, 2005, and thereafter, whose monthly gross family income is not more than two hundred percent (200%)

three hundred
percent (
30
0%)
of the federal poverty level.

(b)

The department shall charge a co-payment for services, as specified by the department, for program participants with incomes greater than two hundred percent (200%) and not more than three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level.

(c)

The department shall asses a fee to assist with the costs of the monthly premiums as follows:

(i)

Not less than forty dollars ($40.00) per child for program participants with income levels greater than two hundred percent (200%) and not more than two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level;

(ii)

Not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) per child for program participants with income levels greater than two hundred fifty percent (250%) and not more than three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level;

(iii)

No more than two (2) children shall be assessed per participating family.

(
d
)

The family of an otherwise eligible child whose family income is greater than three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level may purchase coverage for the child under the program developed pursuant to W.S. 35
‑
25
‑
104, subject to the following conditions:

(i)

The family shall pay the full premium cost of the coverage, as determined by the health benefits plan committee;

(ii)

The
child has not been covered under another
individual or group health insurance
plan
for a continuous period of four (4) months
prior to
apply
ing
for coverage under this subsection
.

(e)

The department may vary the package of benefits available to participants depending upon their income level.

(
f
)

A child who is determined eligible to receive benefits under this section shall remain eligible for twelve (12) months as long as the child resides in the state of
Wyoming
and has not yet attained nineteen (19) years of age. A child's eligibility to receive benefits under this act shall be redetermined on an annual basis. A simplified application process, which includes minimum eligibility requirements, shall be provided throughout the state at various public and private establishments approved by the department of health. To be determined eligible to receive benefits under this section, a child shall not be eligible under the Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services Act,
except as provided in paragraph (
d
)(ii) of this section

shall not have been covered under another health insurance plan for a minimum of one (1) month prior to application for coverage under this act or, upon birth, the child would not otherwise be covered by a public or private health insurance plan. Eligibility under this section shall be determined by the department of health or its designee.

(g)

In addition to the waiting period in subsection (f) of this section, a child whose family income is more than two hundred fifty percent (250%) and less than or equal to three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level shall not be eligible for this program if the child is eligible for coverage under a group health insurance plan offered by an employer of the child's family member.

Sectio
n

2
.

(a)

There is appropriated
seventy-five thousand seventy-five
dollars ($
75
,
075
.00)
from the general fund
and
one hundred
forty-nine
thousand
four
hundred
twenty-five
dollars ($
1
49
,
425
.00) from federal funds
to the department of health. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 201
0
. This appropriation shall only be expended for the purpose of providing health insurance to
children whose monthly gross family income is greater than two hundred percent (2
0
0%) but
not more
than three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level
.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated
state
funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as pr
ovided by law on
June 30
, 2010.

(
b
)

There is appropriated nineteen thousand two hundred eighty dollars ($19,280.00) from the general fund and thirty-five thousand eight hundred seven dollars ($35,807.00) in federal funds

to fund
one (1) full-time position
in
the department of health. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2010. This appropriation shall only be expended for the purpose of administering the child health insurance program.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on Ju
ne

30
, 2010.

Section
3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2009.

(END)

1
SF0039