Did the "up to 26 yrs old" health care coverage go into effect today?

[BattyDem]

I was watching The Ed Show earlier and his panel talked about young adults being allowed to stay covered under their parents health insurance until age 26. Just before he introduced the panel, Ed said it went into effect today ... but I can't find any other info about it.

Are the insurance companies implementing it early? :shrug:

Any info would be appreciated. :-)

[Atman]

1. Yes

Nt

[blaze]

2. Wow! This would be great!

Bumping and responding to I can track! :hi:

[SoCalDem]

9. the only downside I can see, is this:

the parents of said 23-26 yr olds may be unemployed now, and ineligible for THEIR own insurance too :(

or unable to pay for the coverage if they still have it..

[zazen]

3. is that only if they're students, or just in general?

[SoCalDem]

6. supposedly, it's for any of them

student or not.

[K8-EEE]

14. I believe in general and this is GREAT NEWS for my family

My daughter is graduating a year early from college -- so she will be out at age 20 and until now we could only keep her on ins. as a full time student after age 19. WHEW!!

[babylonsister]

4. Yes, here's an article...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/health/policy/11health.html

Rules Let Youths Stay on Parents’ Insurance

[blaze]

8. But it looks like that doesn't take effect 'til Sept 23rd

Sounds like Obama was urging companies to step up... but they don't have to yet.

"On Monday, the White House urged employers to follow the example of insurance companies and extend coverage to their employees’ adult children up to age 26 immediately."

[babylonsister]

12. Oops. Thanks. Wasn't it supposed to take about 6 months

before it became effective? I think so, but I'm too pooped to research that.

[blaze]

17. Exactly!

But hats off to the companies who are stepping up and implementing it now.

[BattyDem]

11. Thanks for the link.

:hi:

It looks like some companies are implementing early because the final rules were issued today. Let's hope all insurance companies decide to go early on this and not wait until September 23rd. :-)

From the article:

"Many insurance companies have voluntarily agreed to provide dependent coverage immediately, without waiting for the requirement to take effect in September 2010 or in January 2011, when many companies renew their coverage."

[babylonsister]

13. Anytime!

:hi:

[Xithras]

16. The Chamber of Commerce guy is wrong in that article

"Adult children can live 2,000 miles away from their parents, be married and not have spoken to Mom and Dad in a year, and they could still be added to the parents’ employer-sponsored health plan just like any other child.”

Most people have to PAY for at least part of their employer sponsored plan, and that hasn't changed with the new regs. If a 25 year old wants to pay for it, mom and dad will need to agree to foot the bill. If mom and dad don't agree, he can't get coverage. The whole "not have spoken to Mom and Dad in a year" thing is bull.

Of course, that gives rise to a whole new problem. "No son, I don't want you to do that. I don't care if you're 24...you'll do what I say or I'll shut of your damned health insurance!" The threat of a several hundred dollar a month bill is not exactly small for a poor young single person.

Then again, I personally have no intention of maintaining my kids health insurance once they turn 18 anyway. I can't afford it.

[Oceansaway]

5. K&R...n/t

[SpartanDem]

7. No, HHS issued regulations for that part of law today

but it doesn't take effect until September.

From the NYT article above:

WASHINGTON — The White House issued rules on Monday allowing young adults to remain covered by their parents’ health insurance policies up to age 26.

The promise of such coverage has attracted great interest. Employers and insurers say they have been flooded with inquiries.

Under the rules, an employer-sponsored health plan or a company selling individual insurance policies must offer coverage to subscribers’ children up to the age of 26, 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.

Coverage is to be available to married and unmarried

[damntexdem]

10. No, in September.

But some companies have announced that they will already honor it.

[BattyDem]

15. Thanks for the info.

:hi:

Let's hope they all decide to honor it early. :-)

[Horse with no Name]

18. We just changed health insurance from my employer to my husband's employer

after all of the hassles of insurance portability, finally got everything squared away to a cheaper and better policy than I had before.
Of course, it remains to be seen how they pay.
I was talking to the insurance rep on the phone about my daughter who just graduated from college and her coverage.
She is 22. They cover up to 24 without going to college...but said that on October 1, she would be eligible for coverage to age 26 per the new healthcare legislation.

[Missouri Girl]

19. Yes and No....

Some insurance companies are allowing young adults to stay on their parents' plan ahead of the effective date. They are not allowing young adults who have already fallen off the coverage to re-enroll. That will come after September 23rd through a special enrollment period.

Here is the HHS Fact Sheet - it provides a list of companies who are voluntarily implementing early, including some self funded plans.

http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/adult_child_fact_sheet.html

[tnlurker]

20. My Company sent a letter a couple of weeks ago

That said ours would take affect on Jan 1, 2011. I hope it is earlier that that though.