Arizona State Senate
1700 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2023
PHOENIX – This week, Senator Fernandez introduced SB1487 (children's health insurance program; eligibility.), which increases the eligibility requirements for individuals who want to enroll in the Children's Health Insurance Program, also known as KidsCare, by raising the federal poverty level from 225% to 250%. In last year’s FY2024 enacted budget, the upper limit of the federal poverty level for KidsCare/CHIP was raised from 200% to 225%. SB1487 would allow Arizona to meet the national standard average of the federal poverty limit.
Senator Brian Fernandez (LD23) stated, "This state investment would draw down additional federal dollars to ensure more Arizonan kids are covered, which is one of the many priorities my Democratic colleagues and I share. The current federal poverty level is not enough to cover families and their children who are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of uninsured Arizona children and in turn strained the finances of families struggling with health coverage. It is critical that the legislature strengthen the social safety net for Arizona’s children and in turn provide desperately needed support to so many households across the state by providing access to affordable healthcare. This is not a handout – families pay a very reasonable premium based on a sliding scall for this comprehensive insurance coverage. Expanding access to KidsCare is an investment in our children's health and in our state's economy. Keeping our children safe and healthy should not be a partisan issue and I hope to see broad bipartisan support on a bill that will make a real difference in our state.”
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