208.640.  Co-payments required, when, amount, limitations. — 1.  Parents and guardians of uninsured children with incomes of more than one hundred fifty but less than three hundred percent of the federal poverty level who do not have access to affordable employer-sponsored health care insurance or other affordable health care coverage may obtain coverage for their children under this section.  Health insurance plans that do not cover an eligible child's preexisting condition shall not be considered affordable employer-sponsored health care insurance or other affordable health care coverage.  For the purposes of sections 208.631 to 208.658, "affordable employer-sponsored health care insurance or other affordable health care coverage" refers to health insurance requiring a monthly premium of:

  (1)  Three percent of one hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three for families with a gross income of more than one hundred fifty and up to one hundred eighty-five percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three;

  (2)  Four percent of one hundred eighty-five percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three for a family with a gross income of more than one hundred eighty-five and up to two hundred twenty-five percent of the federal poverty level;

  (3)  Five percent of two hundred twenty-five percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three for a family with a gross income of more than two hundred twenty-five but less than three hundred percent of the federal poverty level.

­­

­

The parents and guardians of eligible uninsured children pursuant to this section are responsible for a monthly premium as required by annual state appropriation; provided that the total aggregate cost sharing for a family covered by these sections shall not exceed five percent of such family's income for the years involved.  No co-payments or other cost sharing is permitted with respect to benefits for well-baby and well-child care including age-appropriate immunizations.  Cost-sharing provisions for their children under sections 208.631 to 208.658 shall not exceed the limits established by 42 U.S.C. Section 1397cc(e).  If a child has exceeded the annual coverage limits for all health care services, the child is not considered insured and does not have access to affordable health insurance within the meaning of this section.

  2.  The department of social services shall study the expansion of a presumptive eligibility process for children for medical assistance benefits.