Michigan League for Public Policy: Michigan Has Opportunity to Extend Health Insurance Coverage to Over 3,000 Children

LANSING, Michigan, Nov. 19 (TNSRep) -- The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following news release:

By taking up an option to waive a five-year waiting period, Michigan would be able to enroll 3,000 to 4,000 lawfully residing children in healthcare programs and receive substantial federal matching funds. The state could come closer to covering all children and could also secure more comprehensive coverage for pregnant immigrants in the future, according to a new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy.

The Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA) is a federal option states can use to waive a five-year waiting period for Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) for lawfully residing children and pregnant people. The waiting period was instated as part of the 1996 welfare reform law, but the ICHIA option has been available to states since 2009. Michigan has not yet taken up this option for either children or pregnant people, although it currently provides prenatal care regardless of immigration status.

"Michigan is actually falling behind as more than two-thirds of states have eliminated the waiting period for lawfully residing immigrant children and are seeing improvements in their access to healthcare and fewer unmet healthcare needs," said Joan Alker, Executive Director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. "Research shows that access to Medicaid in childhood helps lead to longer, healthier lives, a better chance to finish high school and college, and more prosperous futures for children--so why would a state want to delay those benefits by five years for any child? This would also be a smart fiscal decision as Michigan would receive substantial federal matching funds allowing the state to make this important long-term investment in the future of Michigan's children."

The ICHIA option would extend coverage to more Hispanic or Latinx children in Michigan in particular, because they represent a large share of immigrants and are more likely to be income-eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. In addition, in 2019, Hispanic or Latinx children were uninsured at twice the rate as children of any other racial or ethnic group. A history of racial and economic geographic segregation, in addition to institutional racism in areas like housing and employment, continues to impact families of color when it comes to resources like healthcare. Challenges around language access and barriers to licensing or jobs may also contribute to difficulties for residents who are immigrants. It is key that Michigan use its available tools, like ICHIA, to make the state more inclusive to residents who are immigrants.

"We've seen the impact of recent anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric--like the now-halted "public charge" rule, among others--in creating confusion and fear in immigrant communities. If Michigan were to take action and update this outdated, restrictive policy, it would not only lead to consistent, comprehensive care for more kids, it also would go a long way toward rebuilding trust and creating a climate of safety and inclusion. And it would also improve financial stability for immigrant families through lower premiums, helping them to thrive as Michiganders," Monique Stanton, President & CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, said.

The report, Covering More of Michigan's Children: Making the Most of Existing Federal Flexibilities to Remove the Five-Year Waiting Period for Immigrant Children and Pregnant People, was produced with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and with technical assistance from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

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REPORT: REPORT: https://mlpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/5-year-waiting-period.pdf