Coverage Added For Those Aging Out Of Foster Care

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana is expanding Medicaid health insurance coverage to more adolescents aging out of the state's foster care system.

The Advocate reports that the state health agency has written rules that go into effect Tuesday. A change was required under the federal health care revamp.

Currently, the Medicaid coverage extends to youth between the ages of 18 and 21 who are transitioning out of foster care homes to self-sufficiency. Foster care ends when youth reaches age 18.

Because of the federal Affordable Care Act, the state will expand Medicaid coverage to those youth up to age 26.