Coverage for young adults

18 Comment(s) Posted April 13, 2010 at 1:00pm

Andrew Ondrejcak, 24, was attempting to live out his dream. He moved from a small town to New York City to start a career in fashion. To make ends-meet, Andrew worked at a local bakery. He could barely afford rent and health insurance was out of the question.

According to Andrew,

"Health insurance wasn't even an option. I was flying through my savings, trying to get a career started. I was doing a lot of assisting [for] designers who were doing great work, but I wasn't making anything. The last thing I'm going to do is spend $300 or whatever on insurance, you know?"

Unfortunately, Andrew became ill. Looking around for a doctor to help him, he found that many would not see him because he didn't have insurance. When he finally found a doctor, he also found that the price was high: A simple doctor' visit would be $200. It was a devastating blow. According to Andrew,

"Basically all the money I'd made that week. I left keeling over in pain but took the bus home because I was so broke.

Andrew's ulcers, which he had problems with a few years back, returned and the pain intensified. The doctor's remedy did not work, and Andrew was rushed to the hospital. So now, he is left with pain, suffering, and debt.

In America, a person who tries to pursue their dream should not be penalized because they get sick. Luckily, for people in Andrew's situation, health reform has eliminated that horrifying scenario from happening to anyone else.

Under health reform, people like Andrew who are dubbed "young invincibles" will now be able to stay on their parents' insurance plans until they are 26. This allows for young adults to start careers, move, and take risks without the threat of debt. It is a simple measure, but it will help prevent other kids striking out on their own from going through what Andrew went through.

Comments

John Adams

September 24, 2010 at 8:52am Permalink

My employer is planning on enrolling my 25 yr old son during open enrollment, which means the coverage will be effective January 01, 2011. Does the open enrollment policy supercede the Law which I understand to be effective today, 09/25/2010. If someone could clarify, I would appreciate it.
barbara hirsh

October 4, 2010 at 11:59am Permalink

my ex husbamnd has Oxford as his insurer my son is 23 his father said he has to pay $400.00 to have Drew age 23 added to the plan?

Please let me kniw if this is the truth.....he wants me to pay the $400.00...

Thanks ,

Best,

Barbara Hirsh
Chuck

October 9, 2010 at 3:18pm Permalink

This sounds great if your unemployed
I happen to have a decent paying job ATM
But now for the second time in one year my out of pocket healthcare cost have risen 200% due to the fact that the company i work for had to ADD all the kids back onto the health roll,

Thanks OBAMA for yet again another pay cut,
Marissa

October 11, 2010 at 10:42am Permalink

@ Chuck...be THANKFUL that you have a decent paying job. Millions of people do not!
John Smith

October 27, 2010 at 10:24am Permalink

Yes Marissa, I am thankful to have a decent job and I don't think I should have to pay for other peoples health care and take food off my table. I agree with Chuck. Thanks again Obama!
cindy brubaker

November 6, 2010 at 3:01pm Permalink

To john and chuck you must be very very old and forget how hard it is to be a new college graduate and be looking for a job in your major while having to find affordable health care, it easier to be a delinquent and drop out of high school and be on medical assistance than work hard toward a successful future. Shame on you both for not caring about our future leaders. And about your out of pocket costs going up 200% deductibles have been very high for more than the last 2 years.
Andy B

November 6, 2010 at 5:23pm Permalink

Both to John and Chuck. Do you guys have any idea about what you're talking about? Seriously it's people like you two who make it so that our country is actually ranked 37 in industrialized countries with healthcare in the world. Also, don't blame Obama for healthcare organization raising their prices to scare everyday American's like you two who have no idea what healthcare cost. The amount of money you and your employer put into healthcare is not how much money we're getting in return. The healthcare industry only uses 40% of that money on healthcare!!!! Do you know where the rest of it goes? I do right in their filthy rich pockets! Also, America does NOT have centralized healthcare and we spend more government tax money on healthcare than any other actually centralized healthcare countries!!! How does that make sense? So before you talk, know what it is you're saying thanks!!!

If anyone has the answer to this please let me know. My parents are retired and are paying for a family plan because they are raising my sister's son. Now that the reform is 26 their insurance company is saying because they are retirees they don't get those same benefits! Is that true? Thanks
Brandy

November 24, 2010 at 5:16pm Permalink

My major medical carrier is stating that they do not have to cover my 19 year old stepson who lives under my roof because he is not my biological child!? Can anyone point me to the legal definition of a dependent under the new healthcare reform laws?
REDJOL HOXHA

November 29, 2010 at 12:03pm Permalink

I injured myself last week, tore my ACL and i went at doc. office they told me i didnt have an insurance! I found out I was dependent till July 1, 2010. I turned 24 on June. They never notify me or anything about this, but is really hard for someone to be in college and pay an extra for healthcare. Its any way with this new law i can be covered right now? Can some that knows tell me?
Julie

March 23, 2011 at 1:32pm Permalink

I am 24 and I have a full time job with insurance. I am planning on going back to school full-time to get my master's degree and would like to go back on my parents' health insurance. My dad's company said that they would not take me back because once you are off they will not allow you to go back on. How can I fight this? Could anyone give me information on this?
Erin

March 23, 2011 at 5:21pm Permalink

Hi Julie,

According to our health policy experts, This is not true. You should contact the following for help:

U.S. Department of Labor: Visit www.dol.gov/ebsa or call the Department of Labor’s benefit advisors at-866-444-EBSA (3272).

Your state’s insurance department: Find out how to contact your insurance department by visiting http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm

Also, here's a fact sheet with more information: http://www.familiesusa.org/health-reform-central/september-23/PIRG-brochure-for-Young-Adults.pdf
Roxanne

May 10, 2011 at 1:06pm Permalink

It is interesting how children want to be adults but do not want the responsibility of being an adult which includes taking care of yourself. Employers are now being forced to cover "adult" children which is increasing our costs.

What is infurating is these "adult" children are allowed to stay on their partent's insurance even if they have a job with an employer who offers coverage. In my place of employment we have several new employees who refuse to enroll in our coverage stating they will just stay on their parents plan until age 26 so they "can have the extra cash". Ironically, we require a spouse who is employed to enroll in their own employer's health plan. Double standard?

I have checked with many independent insurers and find health coverage for a person under 25 usually runs under $100 and as low as $75 per month.

My children were taught after they left the nest, they were responsibile for themselves. Is it easy? No. Is it doable, yes. I administer our health plan and I (and many, many others in the field) predict employer sponsored health plans to go into a death spiral.

"If the government can give you everything you want, they can take away everything you have". (Thomas Jefferson)
Eileen

July 7, 2011 at 9:47am Permalink

I was wondering if my 19 year old son who is covered under my insurance will be covered until 26 even if he is not a full time student? Also, his estranged father said he was also covering my son but that his insurance asked his father if he was still a full time student in Feb 2011 and my son was not. His father said the insurance company dropped my son so now he isnt covered. I was under the understanding that as soon as Obama signed the bill that a young adult was covered until age 26. My question is, should my son be covered under both insurances as of Feb 2011?
Thank you
Erin

July 8, 2011 at 4:23pm Permalink

Hi Eileen,

Young adults can stay on their parents' plans until they turn 26, whether or not they are students. The only exception is that some plans do not have to cover young adults if the young adults have their own jobs that offer coverage.

This rule took effect for different people at different times. It took effect on or after September 23, 2010, whenever an insurer's plan year started again. So, if your insurance plan year goes by the calendar year, it would have taken effect for you and your son in January 2011. To further understand how this works, see: http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/health-reform/coverage-for-young-adults.pdf.

For assistance with your situation, you should contact your state's insurance department or the insurance department in your son's father's state of residence. You can find out how to contact them here: http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm.
Allison

July 12, 2011 at 1:16pm Permalink

Hello All,

I am a 23 year old working full time. My job offers health insurance and I enrolled after I was told my father's plan would drop me as of my 23rd birthday. Come to find out this is not the case, I was never dropped. My concern is that if I am working full time am I still eligible to receive these benefits until the age of 26 even if my employer offers health insurance? I am still living with my parents and to be honest don't plan to move out any time soon. Since then, I have unenrolled in my company's health insurance because I feel it is unnecessary. Once I hear I am no longer insured I plan to reenroll but for now it's wasting my money. Especially, since my father is a government official and has excellent insurance. I just curious if there are stipulations to this new health care plan.

@Roxanne
I do understand what you are saying about taking responsibility for yourself. However, my health care was costing me well over $100. Even the independent providers I contacted were no where near that amount.
Tom Finlay

October 27, 2011 at 9:53am Permalink

I am currently enrolling in the 2012 General Motors salaried retirement benefits. I have a 24 year old daughter, turned 24 in October 2011, that is a full time student in a Master's program, graduating in May 2012. I have been informed that she is not eligible for medical insurance coverage beyond the end of the calendar year in which she turns 24. I inquired about the Health Care Reform Bill that requires insurers to allow all dependents to remain on their parents plan until age 26, and was told by GM Benefits that the provision would only apply if I were an active employee of GM; the 26 age rule doesn't apply if the parent is retired receiving GM salaried benefits. Is this true? Is this a loop hole in the Health Care Reform Bill? What are my options to provide health insurance for my daughter?
Alan Davidson

December 8, 2011 at 4:03am Permalink

So I want to get this right. Andrew had a job. His employer either didn't offer health insurance benefits or Andrew didn't want to participate. He also stated: "last thing I'm going to do is spend $300 or whatever on insurance, you know?"

Sounds like he made a choice. Maybe he chose to spend his money going out any having a good time as a young fashion student in NYC might be prone to do.

So now, his parent, working for a company say in Idaho who dose offer insurance can go ahead and place him on the policy that his parent's company pays for. The company now has the added expense of paying for Andrew's health insurance. Andrew, living in another state and working for a bakery in NYC which doesn't offer insurance adds NOTHING to his parent's company. In fact, it is possible he hasn't ever been to the location of his parent's employer.

How is this "fair"? Why does that company have to pay for this young man's health insurance?

Let's say this company has to do this for 20 other older children of employees? Do you think that company will just "eat" the added costs? Of course not. Perhaps they will lay off a couple of folks. Maybe not hire some more. At the very least, they will pass on the coasts somehow, usually by raising costs on their products or services.

Someone pays. Just not Andrew. he gets the benefit for free.

What if his parent has a 100K a year job? If they do, they can afford to pay for a separate policy for their son, but in this case, they can simply have the employer pay.

You know what I call that?

THEFT.
Lou

March 9, 2012 at 10:26am Permalink

As a 25 year old college graduate I feel as if some older adults have absolutely no idea how hard it is to find employment upon graduating. I worked my butt off in college only to have the job market burst. I'm thankful that I am employed but I'm in over my head because my employer does not offer health insurance. I'm thankful for Obama's healthcare plan because my brother and I needed to be on my parents insurance. After he graduated from college he began to have seizures. He was diagnosed with narcolepsy and diabetes on top of the seizures. He was too old to be covered under my parents plan so the entire family had to chip in to provide for his care which was really expensive. There were some months when we just couldnt afford the 400 dollars in medication or the breathing machine that month. Luckily his doctor continued to see him even though we couldnt pay. Because of his condition he was unable to work yet they denied him disability and social security. Its terrible how some of you who comment on here refuse to take care of your children because they are "adults." Being a parent doesnt have a time limit. You all complain about President Obama but truthfully it takes more than 4 years to repair 8 years of damage (thanks bush). It is alot easier to just be a bum and take a handout, but much harder to do the right thing and recieve a "hand up."