The Healthy MOM Act expands health insurance coverage for pregnant women and their newborns across multiple insurance types. The bill creates special enrollment periods that allow pregnant women to sign up for health insurance plans outside normal enrollment windows, beginning when they report their pregnancy to their insurer or healthcare provider. It also requires that dependent children, including young adult daughters, be covered for maternity care under their parents' health plans, and ensures pregnant federal employees can enroll in or change their health plans due to pregnancy.
The legislation addresses Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by making permanent the requirement that states provide 12 continuous months of coverage for pregnant women and new mothers, extending beyond the current 60-day postpartum period that had been set to expire. The bill maintains current Medicaid income eligibility standards for pregnant women, preventing states from reducing coverage. These changes take effect starting January 1, 2025, with Medicaid and CHIP provisions applying one year after enactment to allow states time to update their programs. The bill aims to reduce maternal mortality and improve health outcomes, particularly for Black women and other communities of color who face disproportionately high maternal mortality rates.
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