Health Insurance Companies to offer coverage to young adult children

In the announcement made by the federal employee health insurance program, it is unlikely this year to offer young adults the ability to remain on their parents’ policies until the age of 26. In simpler terms, it means that it will not follow the lead of some private insurance companies which will begin to offer such coverage to young adults by June 1. The current health care law requires insurers to offer to keep adults younger than age 26 covered through their parents’ health plans. It may be noted that United Healthcare, Well point, Humana, Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans and KAISER Permanente said last week that they will offer such coverage immediately by June 1. This has come as a relief to many however some major insurers say they wont make young consumers wait.

Executive Director of Families USA, Ron Pollack said, “It creates a standard that becomes the norm throughout the health insurance marketplace”. The OPM statement updated last Friday said, “Though we are eager to provide coverage to young adults prior to January 1, the current law governing the FEHB Program specifically prohibits us from doing so. Unfortunately, this does not allow flexibility for FEHB plans to provide coverage to other adult children until the provision" in the new health law becomes effective in September”.

The law defines dependent family members as unmarried children under age 22 and this is restricting the OPM actions. Young adults turning 22 are covered for an additional 30 days under their parents’ plan, notes OPM, which is noted in a story by the Federal Times. It may be noted that during this time, they can keep insurance for an additional 36 months through the Temporary Continuation Coverage (TCC) program.