Federal Policy
Senate Democrat Proposes Medicare Enrollment for All Children Under Age 26
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced legislation to automatically enroll all American children in Medicare from birth through age 25, calling the proposal MediKids. The bill would create universal federal coverage for children regardless of family income. No timeline for committee consideration or floor action has been announced. The proposal would fundamentally restructure pediatric coverage currently delivered through Medicaid, CHIP, and commercial insurance, though passage prospects remain uncertain given divided government.
Why it mattersIf enacted, this proposal would eliminate state Medicaid and CHIP managed care contracts for children, shifting all pediatric coverage to federal Medicare and ending a major line of business for Medicaid MCOs.