Is it true that children in Ma. can be under their parents insurance till they turn 25?

Question

My daughter got her associates degree in Dec. and is going back to school in Sept. In the meantime she is uninsured. She is working,but doesn't have insurance.Many phone calls later, we are stumped.Help!

Answer 1

Your daughter is no longer eligible under your employer-sponsored group plan because she isn't a full-time student. She is eligible to continue coverage under COBRA because she lost her dependent child status under the plan rules but you are very close to the deadline for enrollment so if you (or she) received a Notice of Eligibility to Continue Coverage and discarded it, contact your employer right away and find out if it is too late for her to enroll. If you didn't receive one, contact the HR department and ask for one.

The premium will be equal to 102% of what it would cost the employer to insure a single employee. Depending upon the size of your employer, that could be $200 to $250 per month but possibly you help her with the expense. Or, if she is healthy, you could purchase a high deductible (i.e. $2500 calender year) individual policy just to have for a true emergency. An individual policy with a high deductible, no mental health coverage, no maternity and coverage of only generic prescription drugs will cost about $50 but be sure and purchase it from a reputable insurance company that you have heard of such as Anthem. Stay away from insurance companies that have been in business for only a few years like MEGA Insurance.

You should be able to re-enroll her as a dependent when she returns to school full-time in September provided she is under the age of 24. If not, most university offer health insurance policies to their students and she can get coverage that way.

Employer-sponsored health insurance plans are not subject to state law where the employees live but the law were the policy was issued so the insurance law in MA isn't revelant to your situation.  If they are self-insured they aren't subject to any state, but are subject to the federal law ERISA.

Answer 2

You should ask your insurance company what the policy states.  In general, a parent cannot get insurance for their children that's over 19 years old.  

Does your daughter's school provide medical services?  When I went to college, my tuition included medical services.  I was able to see the doctor at school when I was sick and all I had to pay was the cost of medication.  If your daughter's school doesn't provide medical services, your daughter would have to purchase medical insurances from a broker.

Answer 3

it depends on your insurance.  in mississippi, as long as the child is in school, they can be claimed on the insurance until they're 25.

Answer 4

I think you need to speak to your insurance company.  But my guess would be the insurance company will insure a child up to age 25 as long as they are a full time student.  Since she graduated in December and doesn't plan on returning to school until September she wouldn't be eligible to stay on your policy.  But, I think she might be eligible to stay on your policy under COBRA, you would have to ask your human resource department if it is a group policy.  If you have an individual policy then she would need to apply for her own policy.