Abbott Announces Extended Postpartum Coverage for CHIP Recipients

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) recently announced bipartisan legislation that as of March 1, 2024, Texas was extending postpartum coverage to 12 months for eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

“Working with partners in the Texas Legislature last year—including Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Representative Toni Rose—we delivered critical bipartisan legislation to extend postpartum coverage for Texas mothers from two months to one year,” said Gov. Abbott.

“By extending postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage, we will help ensure new mothers and the most vulnerable young Texans receive critical healthcare resources they need to care for their families and thrive,” said Abbott.

HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young expressed how useful the new coverage will be to new mothers.

“Extending postpartum coverage will help new mothers access needed healthcare services HHSC is proud to continue supporting Texas families,” said Young.

Abbott signed House Bill 12 into law, last year, which extended Medicaid and CHIP postpartum coverage from two to 12 months. However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services did not approve Texas' request to make this extension of postpartum coverage until January. All enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP who are pregnant or become pregnant are eligible for the extended coverage.

According to Abbott’s statement, “Coverage will be automatically reinstated for individuals who were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP in Texas while pregnant and are still within their 12-month postpartum period, as long as they still live in Texas. Coverage will be reinstated for the remainder of their 12-month postpartum period.”

Furthermore, “Women who transitioned from Medicaid or CHIP to Healthy Texas Women after their pregnancy ended and are still within their 12-month postpartum period will be transitioned back to full-coverage Medicaid or CHIP for the remainder of their 12-month postpartum period.”

The numerous services covered by Medicaid and CHIP include regular medical checkups, prescription drugs and vaccines, hospital care and services, x-rays and lab tests, vision and hearing care, access to medical specialists and mental health care, as well as treatment of special health needs and preexisting conditions and hospital care and services.

The project will benefit approximately 137,000 women through the 12-month postpartum coverage in fiscal year 2025.