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Dependent children can stay on their parents policy
to  age 26

Employer Groups
Definition of Dependent

CA Insurance Code §10853

(e) “Dependent” means the spouse or registered domestic partner, or child, of an eligible employee, subject to applicable terms of the health benefit plan covering the employee, and includes dependents of guaranteed association members if the association elects to include dependents under its health coverage at the same time it determines its membership composition pursuant to subdivision (s).

(f) “Eligible employee” means either of the following:

(1) Any permanent employee who is actively engaged on a full-time basis in the conduct of the business of the small employer with a normal workweek of an average of 30 hours per week over the course of a month, in the small employer’s regular place of business, who has met any statutorily authorized applicable waiting period requirements… Legislature.Gov *

See also the Employer Administrative Manual for the relevant Insurance Company!

When a dependent loses coverage, there is Cal COBRA or Individual Plans. 

Anthem Blue Cross 
Group Administrator Manual  2020

Anthem Group Administrator Manual

Eligible Dependents
Individual & Family Policy Definitions

Dependent eligibility

To be eligible for coverage as a Dependent, the individual must meet all eligibility requirements listed above, as well as certain Covered California Dependent eligibility requirements. The individual must:

 Be listed on the enrollment form completed by the Subscriber; and
 Be the Subscriber’s spouse, Domestic Partner, or be under age 26 and the child of the Subscriber, spouse, or Domestic Partner.

o For the Subscriber’s spouse to be eligible for this plan, the Subscriber and spouse must not be legally separated.
o For the Subscriber’s Domestic Partner to be eligible for this plan, the Subscriber and Domestic Partner must have a registered domestic partnership.
o “Child” includes a stepchild, newborn, child placed for adoption, child placed in foster care, and child for whom the Subscriber, spouse, or Domestic Partner is the legal guardian. It does not include a grandchild unless the Subscriber, spouse, or Domestic Partner has adopted or is the legal guardian of the grandchild.
o A child age 26 or older can remain enrolled as a Dependent if the child is disabled, incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability, and chiefly dependent on the Subscriber for economic support.

 The Dependent child’s disability must have begun before the period he or she would become ineligible for coverage due to age.
 Blue Shield will send a notice of termination due to loss of eligibility 90 days before the date coverage will end. The Subscriber must inform Covered California of the Dependent’s eligibility for continuation of coverage within 60 days of receipt of this notice in order to continue coverage.
 The Subscriber must submit proof of continued eligibility for the Dependent at Blue Shield’s request. Blue Shield may not request this information again for two years after the initial determination. Blue Shield may request this information no more than once a year after that. The Subscriber’s failure to provide this information could result in termination of a Dependent’s coverage.  Blue Shield EOC *

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…Group or individual health insurance coverage that provides dependent coverage of children shall continue to make such coverage available for an adult child  until the child turns 26 years of age.  

College attendance or student status is no longer an issue! ((Obama’s Plan SEC. §2714(a). EXTENSION OF DEPENDENT COVERAGE. FACt Sheet  ,  Blue Cross Specimen Individual Policy   * consumer notice   *   Overage Dependent Quick Guide *Regulations & Guidance   

Definition of Dependent
Internal Revenue Code  IRC §152 

a)”dependent” means any of the following individuals (click here for list)  over half of whose support, for the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins, was received from the taxpayer (or is treated under subsection (c) or (e) as received from the taxpayer): IRS Publication 501  

Our Site on 1040 including instructions  

Insurer’s must notify you, when you lose  dependent status  (AB 910 2007)

At age 26 check out:

Get FREE CA Quotes under Health Care Reform

COBRA    &  Cal COBRA

Lifetime Coverage for disabled child over 26

FAQ’s

CMS.Gov

UHC

Do Insurance Companies ever audit – check if dependents are really eligible?

Cal Pers drops 18k from Insurance Rolls  CA Health Line 10.21.2015

What about adult children under 26?
For Covered CA Subsidies?

Adult child up to age 26 are eligible for Coverage through their parents employers plan.  However if they are  paying their own taxes, they are not anyone’s tax  dependent, they do not count towards  household income, – MAGI.   Then the adult children could qualify for their own coverage in Covered CA.

In some cases, it might be an idea to exclude dependents from coverage on a group plan, so that the spouse and children can qualify for Covered CA subsidies.  Thus avoiding the the Family Glitch?

Learn More⇒ 

Get Instant Term Life Quote

get term life quotes

Life Insurance Buyers Guide

NAIC Life Insurance Buyers Guide

How much  life insurance you really need?

Video Insurance Unnecessary Cost?

Dependents
Dependents

Consumer Links

Specimen Health Reform Individual Platinum Policy – Eligible Dependents Page 25

CMS  FAQ’s

Regulations & Guidance

California Insurance Company Forms & Applications

Anthem Blue Cross 9/1/2010 Bulletin

UHC Group Policy Extract

HealthCare.Gov     White House.Gov   Affordable Health Care Act   YouTube Channel

Right of Non Custodial Parent to Obtain Medical Information  (Family Law Code 3751.5)

Technical Links

Our Marked Up Copy of Federal Register

CA enacted SB 1088 2010 Price Insurance Code 10277 to require Insurers to conform with PPACA (Obama’s Plan)

Federal Regulations – Student Health Plans

Blue Cross Small Group Administrative Manual

Loss Ratio is higher for kids on parent’s plan vs those who have their own coverage Washington Post

Staying on Health Plan if Disabled  beyond age 26

Blue Cross
Employer enforcement of exclusion for dependents who are eligible for their own employer-sponsored coverage

The health care reform law allows grandfathered group health plans to exclude coverage for young adult dependents who are eligible for their own employer-sponsored coverage. While we aren’t making this exclusion standard, 100+ grandfathered groups can choose to have the exclusion. If a group chooses to exclude coverage for dependents who are eligible for their own employer-sponsored coverage, we will add the exclusion to the group’s certificate language. However, we will not enforce the exclusion on behalf of the group. The employer will need to develop a method that suits its particular needs, as well as materials that support the enforcement method (such as an affidavit for employees to verify that their covered dependents are not eligible for their own coverage).  (Blue Cross 12/3/2010 Bulletin)

Historical Links

Covered CA problems with implementing the law.

Blue Cross FAQ’s 4/30/2010

LA Times 4/4/2010 Article

One time Open Enrollment November 2010

Blue Cross Anthem Open Enrollment November for January 1 Effective Date Application – Change Form

  • Commercial health plans and insurers are prohibited from terminating coverage for full-time dependent students over 18 during a break in the school calendar or a medically necessary academic leave of absence.
  • Coverage continues for up to one year or until coverage is scheduled to terminate under the plan’s terms and conditions, whichever comes first.
  • Documentation of the medical necessity must be submitted to the Insurance Company  if the health plan certifies the students for coverage. (kp.org/HR2851) (SB 1168)

Dependent Children can now be covered to Age 26 detailed information on SteveShorr.com
Family – Income Tax MAGI
Cal Pers drops 9k dependents as they don’t meet the definition californiahealthline.org

Health Care Reform….  Excerpt from Wikipedia Due to the new regulations of guaranteed issue, and allowing children to be included on their parents’ plans until age 26, several insurance companies announced that they would stop issuing new child-only policies.[131][132][133] However, because children would now be covered by their parents’ plans, the Census Bureau found that the number of uninsured 19- to 25-year-olds had declined by 1.6% or 393,000 people by 2011.[134] Starting January 1, 2014, state health insurance exchanges will be required to offer a child-only coverage option, and Medicaid eligibility will be made available to 16 million individuals with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty level.[135]

When your child/stepchild gets married or turns 23 (whichever comes first), the child is no longer considered your dependent.

There is one exception: when your child turns 23 but is incapable of self-support because of a physical or mental disability that has existed from before the age of 23. In this case, the child may remain a dependent until the incapacity ends.

Other pages in EmployER Definition – Health Care Reform » EmployEE Definition  Section

 

Covered CA
How to use your plan 

11 comments on “Dependent Definition – Up to Age 26”

  1. If my 18 year old son joined the National Guard and is still in high school, can he remain on my medical insurance?

    Reply

  2. My Father passed away. I’m now the primary caretaker for my 18 year old brother. I will be filing taxes as head of household. Can I add by brother to my group health plan?

    Reply

  3. I’m 30 years old, recently got my Master’s Degree and am looking for a job. What do you suggest for health Insurance?

    Reply

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