As previously announced, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(PPACA, or “healthcare reform”) will allow “adult children” ages 18-25 to be
covered under their parent’s medical plan effective July 1, 2011.
Looking to cover a dependent 18-25 under this change? If you have a child 18-25 who is not already covered under the FUSD plan, FUSD will be conducting a special “Dependent Open Enrollment” in May for those who become eligible for medical coverage under this provision of healthcare reform. The Dependent Open Enrollment is scheduled May 1-31, 2011, with medical coverage from this special enrollment to take effect July 1, 2011. Remember: This special Dependent Open Enrollment applies only to those dependents ages 18-25 who are not currently covered under the FUSD’s medical plan.
On the other hand, if you have a child who is already covered in the FUSD plan and has not reached the FUSD plan’s “limiting age” – age 25 for fulltime students, age 19 for all others – simply list their information where specified on the enrollment form included in the current Benefits Open Enrollment packet. If they are already in the FUSD plan and under the limiting age, they will be enrolled in the same coverage you choose for yourself under Option A or Option B.
Finally, if you have a dependent child who is already covered in the FUSD plan and will reach the FUSD plan’s “limiting age” before July 1, 2011, you can re-enroll them in the FUSD plan during the special “Dependent Open Enrollment” scheduled in May.
Healthcare reform is a complicated topic, and the FUSD is working hard to
ensure its plan participants stay informed about how PPACA-related changes
affect your medical plan. Stay tuned to HealthConnect for more information, and if you have questions, feel free to send them to HealthConnect via e-mail at jhmbhealthconnect@yahoo.com.