Coverage of the TANF Population Under Medicaid and SCHIP (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised March 8, 2006 |
| Report Number |
RS22035 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Elicia J. Herz, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Premium Jan. 27, 2005 (4 pages, $24.95)
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Summary:
Health insurance is an important support for individuals receiving, leaving or diverted from the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare or cash assistance program for
low-income families. Medicaid and SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) are key
vehicles for providing such coverage. While there is no formal link between TANF and either
Medicaid or SCHIP, some TANF-eligibles, especially children, are likely to qualify for one of these
programs. But state eligibility rules can be complex and often differ for parents versus children,
leaving some parents, in particular, without coverage. Finally, six to 12 months of transitional
medical assistance (TMA) for families losing Medicaid coverage for work-related reasons expired
on December 31, 2005, but was reinstated retroactively to this date, and extended through 2006
under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 ( P.L. 109-171 ).
