§ 1396e-1. Premium assistance option for children

(a) In general

A State may elect to offer a premium assistance subsidy (as defined in subsection (c)) for qualified employer-sponsored coverage (as defined in subsection (b)) to all individuals under age 19 who are entitled to medical assistance under this subchapter (and to the parent of such an individual) who have access to such coverage if the State meets the requirements of this section.

(b) Qualified employer-sponsored coverage

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2)),^[1] in this paragraph, the term “qualified employer-sponsored coverage” means a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered through an employer—

(A) that qualifies as creditable coverage as a group health plan under section 300gg (c)(1) of this title;

(B) for which the employer contribution toward any premium for such coverage is at least 40 percent; and

(C) that is offered to all individuals in a manner that would be considered a nondiscriminatory eligibility classification for purposes of paragraph (3)(A)(ii) of section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (but determined without regard to clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of such paragraph).

(2) Exception

Such term does not include coverage consisting of—

(A) benefits provided under a health flexible spending arrangement (as defined in section 106(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); or

(B) a high deductible health plan (as defined in section 223(c)(2) of such Code), without regard to whether the plan is purchased in conjunction with a health savings account (as defined under section 223(d) of such Code).

(3) Treatment as third party liability

The State shall treat the coverage provided under qualified employer-sponsored coverage as a third party liability under section 1396a (a)(25) of this title.

In this section, the term “premium assistance subsidy” means the amount of the employee contribution for enrollment in the qualified employer-sponsored coverage by the individual under age 19 or by the individual’s family. Premium assistance subsidies under this section shall be considered, for purposes of section 1396b (a) of this title, to be a payment for medical assistance.

(d) Voluntary participation

(1) Employers

Participation by an employer in a premium assistance subsidy offered by a State under this section shall be voluntary. An employer may notify a State that it elects to opt-out of being directly paid a premium assistance subsidy on behalf of an employee.

(2) Beneficiaries

No subsidy shall be provided to an individual under age 19 under this section unless the individual (or the individual’s parent) voluntarily elects to receive such a subsidy. A State may not require such an election as a condition of receipt of medical assistance. State ^[2] may not require, as a condition of an individual under age 19 (or the individual’s parent) being or remaining eligible for medical assistance under this subchapter, apply for enrollment in qualified employer-sponsored coverage under this section.

(3) Opt-out permitted for any month

A State shall establish a process for permitting the parent of an individual under age 19 receiving a premium assistance subsidy to disenroll the individual from the qualified employer-sponsored coverage.

(e) Requirement to pay premiums and cost-sharing and provide supplemental coverage

In the case of the participation of an individual under age 19 (or the individual’s parent) in a premium assistance subsidy under this section for qualified employer-sponsored coverage, the State shall provide for payment of all enrollee premiums for enrollment in such coverage and all deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing obligations for items and services otherwise covered under the State plan under this subchapter (exceeding the amount otherwise permitted under section 1396o of this title or, if applicable, section 1396o–1 of this title). The fact that an individual under age 19 (or a parent) elects to enroll in qualified employer-sponsored coverage under this section shall not change the individual’s (or parent’s) eligibility for medical assistance under the State plan, except insofar as section 1396a (a)(25) of this title provides that payments for such assistance shall first be made under such coverage.

[1] So in original. The second closing parenthesis probably should not appear.

[2] So in original. Probably should be preceded by “A”.

U.S. Code

§ 1396e-1. Premium assistance option for children