Young Adult Coverage Expands

 

Massachusetts’ 2006 state health reform law allowed many dependents to remain on their parents' plan up to age 26 or for two years after losing dependency, whichever occurred first.  National health care reform expands on that policy, offering additional coverage opportunities for young adults.  Under national reform, an employer-sponsored health plan or a company selling non-group insurance policies must offer coverage to subscribers' children up to the age of 26 (in the case of a family policy) regardless of whether a child lives with his or her parents, attends college, is a dependent for income-tax purposes or receives financial support from the parents. 

As of October 1, Commonwealth Choice plans (private pay insurance for those with incomes over 300% of FPL or otherwise ineligible for Commonwealth Care) will implement this new federal standard for new members. In most cases, it will be effective for current members when they renew. The federal standard is not applicable to Commonwealth Care, since Commonwealth Care does not offer any family plans.

Also worth noting is the federal provision restricting and ultimately eliminating lifetime or annual dollar caps on essential health care benefits. Most Massachusetts health plans do not have these limits, though annual benefit limits exist for some of our Young Adult Plans for those ages 18 to 26.  The state has asked the federal government for flexibility to phase out these limits in a manner that mitigates premium increases for young adults.

-From: The Health Connector Executive Director's Monthly Message , Glen Shor, September 24, 2010.

 

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