Kiggans introduces the Care for Military Kids Act

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, Congresswoman Kiggans (VA-02) announced the introduction of her legislation, the Care for Military Children Act. This bipartisan bill, which Congressman Kiggans introduced along with Congressman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), aims to ensure that servicemembers can maintain critical health care coverage and medical services for their children no matter where their service takes them.

In particular the Care for Military Children Act would amend the Social Security Act to ensure that any dependent of an active duty military member who is currently receiving long-term care services through a state-administered Medicaid plan would continue to be eligible for those services if their family is stationed in another state . The legislation is endorsed by the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD), the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and The Arc of the United States.

“As a Navy spouse and someone who served for nearly a decade myself, I know how difficult moving can be for military families,” said Congressman Kiggans. “It is imperative that service members are able to maintain health care coverage for their children when they are relocated. I am proud to introduce the Care for Military Children Act to ensure that military children have access to the consistent health care coverage and medical care they need to live healthy and happy lives. Our men and women in uniform already sacrifice so much for our country… their children should never have to leave critical care because of their selfless decision to serve.”

Medicaid is administered by states, which means that the portability of benefits related to home and community health care services is not guaranteed from one state to another. This puts individuals and their families at risk of losing their services if they leave their state, which especially impacts military dependents who often change locations as part of the family’s commitment to serve their country. A new report from the Children’s Hospital Association underscores the importance of Medicaid in enabling access to health care for nearly three million children in military-connected families.