Bill
HB 1070
North Dakota CHIP expands eligibility to 205% of the federal poverty level and allows retroactive coverage for three months prior to application, aligning with Medicaid.
Subject: Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — plan eligibility and retroactive coverage
Status / procedural notes
- Bill: HB 1070 — An Act to amend and reenact section 50‑29‑04 of the North Dakota Century Code.
- Introduced by: Human Services Committee (at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services).
- Introduced: November 12, 2024.
- Filed with Secretary of State: March 14, 2025.
- Text amends NDCC § 50‑29‑04 (Plan requirements for the state's children's health insurance program).
Purpose and intent
- To revise CHIP plan requirements to align coverage with Medicaid and to expand and clarify income eligibility and retroactive coverage rules so more children can gain or retain continuous coverage.
Key provisions and changes
- Consistency with Medicaid: The CHIP plan must be consistent with coverage provided to children eligible for state medical assistance (Medicaid).
- Income eligibility limit increased: The plan must provide a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) eligibility limit of 205% of the federal poverty level (the bill text shows "two hundred ten two hundred five percent" but the operative change increases the prior limit to 205% FPL).
- Current eligibility effective date: Current eligibility may be established effective the first day of the month in which the application is received.
- Retroactive eligibility: The plan may establish retroactive eligibility for the three calendar months immediately preceding the month the application was received, even if the child was not eligible in the month of application — provided all factors of eligibility are met during each retroactive month.
Who is affected
- Primary: Children and families seeking coverage under North Dakota's CHIP — specifically applicants whose household income falls at or below the stated MAGI threshold (205% of FPL).
- Administrative: Department of Health and Human Services and county/local eligibility workers who determine and enroll CHIP beneficiaries.
- Fiscal/coverage impact: More children may become eligible for CHIP or receive retroactive coverage, potentially increasing program enrollment and associated state and federal expenditures.
Implementation / fiscal considerations
- The bill does not specify an effective date or an appropriation in the provided text. Expanding eligibility and allowing retroactive coverage can increase short‑term costs (additional enrollments, retroactive claims) but may be offset in part by federal CHIP/MATCH funding; agencies would need to estimate budget impact during rule or budget processes.
Notes / caveats
- The uploaded document contains excerpts from multiple different HB 1070 drafts from other states; this summary addresses the North Dakota version that amends NDCC § 50‑29‑04.
- The bill text contains a typographical string (“two hundred tentwo hundred five percent”); the operative numeric change in the text is to 205% of the federal poverty level.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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