Kansas Approves Low-Income Health Insurance Subsidy

The Kansas House on Tuesdayvoted 103-20 to approve legislation that would create an insurance subsidy forlow-income residents and expand other health care programs, the WichitaEaglereports. The measure would provide $4 million to fund the first year of theinsurance subsidy. The state Senate eliminated the subsidy provisions from itsversion of the bill in favor of a modest expansion of SCHIP.

The legislation also would expand Medicaid coverage, and dental andanti-smoking programs to pregnant women with incomes up to 200% of the federalpoverty level. Most services currently are limited to individuals with annualincomes up to 150% of the poverty level.

In addition, the bill would:

• Mandate that group that employees be allowed to pay their share of premiums on a pretax basis;
• Allocate additional funds for cancer screenings at safety net clinics and rural health centers;
• Launch new efforts to increase enrollment of eligible children in programs for low-income families; and
• Increase the amount of time that workers can continue health coverage when changing jobs.

The Houseversion would cost an estimated $10 million (Klepper, Wichita Eagle,3/26).

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