Creates a publicly funded program for uninsured individuals requiring on an appropriation of $53,200,000 for fiscal year 2027 and an appropriation of 109,600,000 for fiscal year 2028 and every fiscal year thereafter.

Rhode Island Protect Our Healthcare Act of 2026

This bill would create a new state-funded health coverage program specifically for Rhode Island residents who do not have health insurance. The program would be paid for entirely with public money — meaning state tax dollars — rather than through insurance premiums paid by individuals. The bill has been introduced in the Senate and sent to the Senate Finance Committee, where lawmakers will review its costs and details before deciding whether to move it forward.

The funding required would be significant. In fiscal year 2027, the program would need approximately $53.2 million, and starting in fiscal year 2028, it would require roughly $109.6 million every year going forward. This increase from year one to year two likely reflects a phase-in period as more people enroll in the program over time.

The people most directly affected would be uninsured Rhode Islanders — those who currently have no health insurance coverage, whether because they cannot afford it, do not qualify for existing programs like Medicaid, or for other reasons. If passed, this program could give those individuals access to healthcare services they currently may struggle to afford or obtain. Rhode Island taxpayers as a whole would also be affected, since the program would be funded through the state budget, potentially influencing state spending priorities or tax decisions in future years.