Health-Care Coverage for Children and Youth in Foster Care-and After

Children and youth in foster care often have significant health-care needs. Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Family First Prevention Services Act have increased access to and affordability of health care for some of our most vulnerable children and youth. This issue brief reviews the eligibility pathways that enable children and youth in foster care to receive Medicaid or other health-care coverage and includes resources to help youth and young adults understand their health-care options. It also provides resources for child welfare agencies to assist children, youth, and families in accessing health-care services, including resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2022). Health-care coverage for children and youth in foster care—and after. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau. 

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

To order printed copies of this publication, please use our order form.