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Health coverage extended early to young adults

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Staff Report Updated 8:22 PM Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Several health insurers with a significant local presence will eliminate a “coverage gap” for young adults by letting them stay on their parents’ or guardians’ health plans months ahead of a Sept. 23 federal deadline requiring them to do so.

UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio this week all announced coverage extensions for adults under age 26.

The federal health care overhaul lets dependent children up to age 26 stay on their parents’ health insurance plans, effective Sept. 23.

But in Ohio, that eligibility threshold will rise to age 28 on July 1 for unmarried adults who either are residents of Ohio or attend an accredited college full-time. They can’t be eligible for other insurance through an employer or Medicaid.

Anthem said that on June 1, it will begin automatically retaining young people on their parents’ policies in fully insured group and individual health plans.

UnitedHealthcare said it will extend the health coverage that graduating college students have under their parents’ plans until the new provision is implemented.

The change in policy does not mean all dependents under age 26 will begin receiving health-care coverage in advance of the Sept. 23 deadline.

“Our program is just a continuation of coverage for (college) seniors that are already on their parents’ health plan,” UnitedHealthcare spokeswoman Debora Spano said. “We’re not adding any additional members. What we’re doing is allowing these college graduates to continue to have their parents’ insurance up (through) Sept. 23.”

Kelly McGivern, president/CEO of the Ohio Association of Health Plans, said it makes sound business sense for health insurers to avoid the cumbersome process of disenrolling young adults, only to potentially re-enroll them in a few months. Health insurers want to “minimize any disruptions” to members, she said.

Spokesman Scot Roskelley said Aetna is evaluating a Monday letter from U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding a similar coverage extension and will decide whether to extend coverage “shortly.”

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