If a child receives a school meal, he should  be eligible for Medicaid or Family Health Plus.

S.4057A/A.7515A, The Child Health Plus and School Meals Enrollment Coordination Act of 2011 would allow families to use proof of enrollment in New York’s School Meals Program as documentation proof of income for children applying for Medicaid and Child Health Plus.

S.4507A/A.7515A serves to streamline and simplify the enrollment pathway to Medicaid and Child Health Plus through the elimination of unnecessary procedures and documentation requirements. The eligibility level for the school meals program is 185% of the Federal Poverty Level, putting children who qualify well within the income eligibility for Medicaid or Child Health Plus.

This legislation would make public health insurance enrollment significantly easier for eligible families who are having difficulty providing income documentation proof and would help New York State serve some of its most vulnerable children

Read the following Memorandums of Support:

• Children’s Defense Fund of New York

• United Way
  
• HCFANY