The recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – also known as PPACA, or “healthcare reform” – will mean some changes for the JHMB’s health-benefit plans. While the law will “phase in” in several steps over the next four years, one section of the PPACA requires health-benefit providers like the JHMB to take steps now, so that compliance is ensured down the road.
For example, the JHMB is going through its annual process of verifying that plan participants’ children over 18 years of age are currently enrolled as full-time students, a status that preserves their eligibility for coverage under the JHMB’s employee benefits plan.
But under the new law (in effect as of September 2010, but not affecting the JHMB’s benefits plans until July 1, 2011), adult children will be permitted to remain on their parent’s health insurance plan until age 26, regardless of whether or not they are enrolled as full-time students, and regardless of whether or not their own employer offers coverage. While there are some exceptions made for health plans that have “grandfather” status, this “grandfather” status is unlikely to apply to the health benefits offered by the JHMB.
As a reminder, if you currently have an adult child who is not a student but is between 18 and 26 years of age, that child would not be eligible for coverage under this provision until July 1, 2011.
For more information, download and read our FAQ: Coverage of Adult Children under Healthcare Reform.