Update on 4 Key Health Coverage Bills at the Legislature

We want to give you a quick update on the four main proposals at the Texas Legislature to lower the state's uninsured rate and connect more Texans with health care — and we want to ask for your help getting the Legislature to support these good bills!

We appreciate that members of the Texas House have started holding hearings on health coverage bills and signing on to health coverage bills. Meanwhile, in the Texas Senate, we're still looking for signs that leadership is interested in doing anything this session — even holding a hearing — to address the state's worst-in-the-nation uninsured rate.

Keeping Eligible Kids Enrolled in Their Health Insurance

There was a hearing Tuesday on HB 290, which would cut down on the inaccurate mid-year eligibility reviews that mistakenly knock Texas kids out of their Medicaid insurance just a few months after they were confirmed to be eligible. Now we need the House Human Services Committee to vote out the bill. Learn more about the bill here.

Letting Moms Keep Their Insurance for a Year After Pregnancy

Last week there was a hearing on HB 133, which would let moms stay enrolled in their Medicaid health insurance for 12 months — not just two months — after pregnancy. We're working with the House Human Services Committee to vote the bill out. Learn more about the bill here.

Medicaid Expansion to Cover Adults with Low Incomes

Numerous bills have been filed to accept Medicaid expansion funding from the federal government to provide an insurance option to adults with incomes below 138% of the poverty level (about $30,000/year for a family of three). Hearings have not been scheduled yet. Learn more about Medicaid expansion here.

Live Well Texas Program to Cover Adults with Low Incomes

HB 3871 and SB 117 are alternatives to the traditional Medicaid expansion bills. They propose a Medicaid Waiver, similar to those used in other conservative states, to establish a Live Well Texas program that provides an insurance option to Texas adults below 138% of the poverty level. The federal government would pay 90% of the costs. As the Houston Chronicle just reported, several Republican legislators have now signed on to HB 3871 — a very encouraging development! Hearings have not been scheduled yet.

Will you help us build on this momentum for the Live Well Texas health coverage bills?

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to take action. We appreciate you raising your voice!