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Healthy Children Family Assistance Health Insurance Program Act of 1996

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 1, 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Coverage for Children and Pregnant Women Subtitle A: Definitions Subtitle B: Participating State Program Title II: Qualifying Policies Subtitle A: Qualifying Policies Subtitle B: Access and Preexisting Condition Limitations Subtitle C: General Duties and Responsibilities of the Secretary Title III: Assistance to Families and Pregnant Women Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions Healthy Children Family Assistance Health Insurance Program Act of 1996 - Title I: Coverage for Children and Pregnant Women - Subtitle A: Definitions - Sets forth definitions used in this Act. Subtitle B: Participating State Program - Sets forth the general framework for a State program negotiated and contracted with at least one health plan to provide access to qualified health plans to eligible children and pregnant women residing in the State. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide certain payments for operating and administrative costs of participating States. Title II: Qualifying Policies - Subtitle A: Qualifying Policies - Describes the qualifying health policies for children and pregnant women, with a prohibition under each policy against any cost-sharing requirements for preventive services. Subtitle B: Access and Preexisting Condition Limitations - Places certain limitations on the imposition of preexisting condition exclusions under such policies, prohibiting them outright with regard to pregnant women. Subtitle C: General Duties and Responsibilities of the Secretary - Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations and interim final regulations to implement the State program. Title III: Assistance to Families and Pregnant Women - Prescribes guidelines for determining the eligibility of children and pregnant women for premium and cost-sharing assistance. Requires States to have such assistance programs in effect to qualify for Federal payments under this Act. Prescribes penalties for material misrepresentation and false information in applications for assistance. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations under which each State operating a program for premium assistance shall have in effect an enrollment outreach system. Requires reduction of Federal payments for administrative errors. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Prohibits any employer which elects to make employer contributions on behalf of an employee, or an employee dependent, for health insurance coverage from conditioning, or varying, such contributions with respect to any such individual by reason of their status as an individual eligible for premium assistance. Provides that an employer shall not be treated as failing to meet such requirements if the employer ceases to make employer contributions for health insurance coverage for all its employees. (Sec. 402) Prohibits a participating State from modifying the eligibility requirements for children or pregnant women under the State Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act in any manner that would have the effect of reducing the eligibility of children or pregnant women for coverage under such program. (Sec. 403) Expresses the sense of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate that the program established under this Act should be fully financed in a budget neutral manner by offsetting revenues derived from increasing the taxes on tobacco and providing for reductions in undeserved corporate tax breaks.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D–MA

Committees

  • Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12128)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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