This issue brief, developed by the Center for Adolescent Health & the Law, describes the young people who are aging out of foster care, their health status, and the barriers they face when leaving foster care. It explains how health care access can be improved for this population, by describing how Medicaid and SCHIP currently reach adolescents and young adults, and how these two programs can be used to help former foster youth. The brief emphasizes the important opportunity presented by the Medicaid Expansion Option contained in the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, and summarizes the policy options that can best improve access to health care for former foster youth.
Health Care for Adolescents and Young Adults Leaving Foster Care
