Most college students are covered as dependents until graduation.
Because of the increasing cost of health insurance, many college students, recent graduates and other young adults cannot afford to purchase it on their own. As a result, this demographic often constitutes one of the largest groups of uninsured Americans. In response to changes in federal insurance coverage, states including Michigan now offer extended coverage for dependents.
PPACA
In March 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The act was created to provide key reform measures in the private health insurance industry, which included extending the age of coverage for dependents of health insurance holders. Before the new law, dependents enrolled in college full time were covered until the year of graduation; however, the new law requires that coverage be provided for all dependents up to 26 years of age.
BCBS
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), one of the largest health insurance providers in the country and in Michigan, announced in April 2010 that it had reached an agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to extend dependent coverage ahead of the federally mandated Sept. 23, 2010, deadline. Like other private health insurance carriers, BCBS previously had allowed dependent coverage to full-time students only through graduation year.
Requirements
Because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more young adults in Michigan are able to receive health insurance coverage through their parents. This includes any health insurance dependent, regardless of financial dependency, marital status and enrollment in school. Young adults offered insurance by their employers may also elect to remain on their parents' insurance plan if they are under 26. Likewise, the PPACA applies to individual health insurance policies as well those held through a parent's employer.
Enrollment
If you are under 26 and previously were enrolled on your parent's health insurance plan, but were dropped due to your school enrollment status, you are eligible to be offered coverage in Michigan. In addition, you are entitled to a 30-day window for enrollment, regardless of plan or coverage. To find out more about extended health insurance coverage for dependents in Michigan, you can contact you health insurance provider.
Tags: health insurance, coverage dependents, insurance coverage, Affordable Care, college students
