Updated November 1, 2010
The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 will bring about a number of modifications to healthcare coverage and accessibility. Among the first changes is the extension of health insurance coverage to adult children under the age of 26.
Instead of waiting until July 1, 2011 to extend medical coverage to adult children up to age 26, UVM has chosen to offer this benefit to our employees earlier than the law requires.
Please recognize that this extended benefit is only for health insurance coverage. It does not affect any other insurance coverage. Specifically, extending dental and life insurance coverage to your child on your UVM policy are only possible if your child is a dependent for income tax purposes—and both dental and life insurance coverage will end at age 24 or at the time of graduation, whichever comes first.
Note: If your child is 19 and is graduating, you will need to fill out a Delta Dental enrollment application/change form to have him/her removed from your policy. Send the form to Human Resource Services at HRSInfo@uvm.edu so that a COBRA letter can be issued for the child’s dental coverage. Dental coverage does not continue past graduation.
My adult child is under the age of 26 and was not on my UVM health insurance coverage on March 31, 2010 because she did not meet the eligibility requirements for dependents. When may I add her to my health insurance coverage?
If your adult child is under age 26 and was not on a UVM health insurance plan on March 31, 2010, your child will be eligible to enroll as a dependent on your health insurance plan during the second special enrollment period between November 1 and 30, 2010. The effective date of the coverage will be December 1, 2010. Employees who choose to cover adult children will be required to pay the applicable premium rate.
My adult child is under the age of 26 and was removed from my UVM health insurance coverage after March 31, 2010 because he ceased to meet eligibility requirements. May I put him back on my health insurance coverage?
If your adult child is under age 26 and was removed from your UVM health insurance plan after March 31, 2010, but before June 1, 2010 you will need to complete a Blue Cross and Blue Shield or MVP health insurance enrollment form to place your adult child back on your health insurance coverage. The effective date of coverage will be retroactive to the date of the loss of coverage. Employees who choose to cover adult children will be required to pay the applicable premium rate. If this creates an additional cost to you, this amount will be deducted beginning with your next paycheck.
Note: Enrollment forms must be received by UVM Human Resource Services by 4:30 pm on Monday, June 14, 2010.
My adult child is a recent graduate and is under the age of 26. I would like her to remain on my health insurance coverage. What shall I do?
If your adult child recently graduated (or will be graduating), is under the age of 26, and is currently covered under your UVM health insurance policy, your child’s UVM health insurance coverage will continue uninterrupted. You do not need to do anything.
Note: If your child is 19 and is graduating, you will need to fill out a Delta Dental enrollment application/change form to have him/her removed from your policy. Send the form to Human Resource Services at HRSInfo@uvm.edu so that a COBRA letter can be issued for the child’s dental coverage. Dental coverage does not continue past graduation.
My adult child is a recent graduate and I completed a form to remove her from my UVM health insurance coverage. In light of the new rules, I would like her to be covered under my plan. What must I do?
If you have already submitted paperwork to remove your adult child from your UVM health insurance plan prior to this change in policy (and the insurance coverage has not yet lapsed), your child will automatically remain on your UVM health insurance plan unless you reiterate your desire for us to do otherwise. The child will remain insured and you do not need to do anything. (If you did indeed want to cancel your child’s coverage you would need to make that request in writing and send it to the HRS Information Center at HRSInfo@uvm.edu.)
I have completed the paperwork to add my adult child to my UVM health insurance plan. He is currently interviewing however, and plans to accept a position in North Carolina if it is offered. How would he go about receiving out-of-area coverage?
Please contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont for specific direction if your adult child needs out-of-area coverage. The toll-free number is 1-888-222-7886.