End of Continuous Health Insurance Coverage for Some Adults and Children
Policy changes at the federal level will impact continuous health insurance coverage for certain individuals. Effective July 1, 2026, adults (ages 19-64) with Medicaid and children (ages 0-6) with Medicaid or Child Health Plus (CHP) will be impacted as follows:
Adults (ages 19-64) with Medicaid have had 12-months of continuous coverage, regardless of change in income. Starting July 1, adults will need to report changes to their income during their coverage period; changes must be reported within 30 days to NY State of Health. If their reported income exceeds the Medicaid allowed amounts, their current coverage will end and their new eligibility for a different program, if applicable, will take effect (according to regular enrollment timeframes). Notices to this effect were sent to Medicaid beneficiaries in May 2026.
Note: This policy does not apply to consumers who are pregnant or in their 12-month postpartum period. These consumers will remain eligible for Medicaid with continuous through the end of their 12-month postpartum period.
Children ages 0-6 have had continuous coverage for Medicaid and subsidized Child Health Plus, meaning that a child who was enrolled in health insurance did not need to recertify for eligibility until they turned 6 years old, even if their household income increased. Starting July 2026, NY State of Health will revert back to 12 months of continuous coverage for children from birth through age six; children will need to recertify annually for health insurance. In May 2026, NY State of Health redetermined eligibility for children ages 0-6 in Medicaid or subsidized Child Health Plus. If NY State of Health was unable to administratively renew the child, a manual renewal notice was sent to the household with a completion due date of June 15, 2026.
If the renewal was completed, and the child was found to no longer be eligible for Medicaid or CHP, their coverage will be terminated effective June 30, 2026.
Children whose families do not submit the manual renewal will be terminated from their coverage effective June 30, 2026.
Children who were enrolled in Medicaid and re-determined eligible for CHP may be auto-enrolled in a CHP plan if their Medicaid coverage also offers CHP coverage in the child’s service area. If overlap does not exist, the family must select a new plan.
If a child is currently enrolled in Medicaid or subsidized CHP and they are in their 12-month continuous eligibility period, they will remain enrolled and will be pulled into the accountholder’s regularly scheduled annual renewal.
