Coverage for Dependents Between 19 and 26
Law Passed Extending Coverage, Regardless of Student Status
On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. The provision to allow dependents up to age 26 to remain on the Plan, regardless of student status, will take place at the Plan's first renewal following six months after the legislation was signed into law. The federal legislation will go into effect for the State Health Plan on July 1, 2011.
The North Carolina General Assembly ratified House Bill 1707 which allows dependents enrolled on the Plan as of May 1, 2010 to remain on the Plan if they are under age 26, regardless of their student status. This is provided that the dependent child is not eligible for other employer-sponsored health benefit coverage as a primary beneficiary or spousal dependent.
If your dependent was eligible and enrolled on the Plan as of May 1, 2010 and you made a request to remove your dependent as a result of losing full-time student status, please contact your Health Benefits Representative or Customer Service at 888-234-2416 to verify the process for adding your dependent back on the Plan.
