Postpartum Lifeline Act

The Postpartum Lifeline Act would require 12 months of continuous, full-benefit coverage for pregnant individuals under both Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In practice, this means states would have to provide comprehensive health coverage—not limited to pregnancy-related services—throughout pregnancy and for the full 12 months after the end of pregnancy. The bill rewrites certain existing provisions to mandate this level of coverage via state plans or waivers, replacing earlier language that limited benefits during the postpartum period to specific pregnancy-related services. The effective date is generally the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after one year from enactment, with options for earlier start if states elect to implement sooner and/or require state legislation. In short, the bill expands postpartum health coverage for Medicaid/CHIP participants, requiring states to ensure full benefits are available for a full year after pregnancy, with standard timelines and kick-off conditions that accommodate state administrative processes.