Oct. 8, 2009

Weitzman informs County employees that children up to 29 years of age are eligible for extended health insurance coverage for additional cost

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman would like to inform all County employees covered under the New York State Insurance Program (NYSHIP) about a measure recently signed into law that allows employees to continue health coverage for their unmarried children through the age of 29, as long as the child lives, resides and works in New York, is not covered by another policy and is not eligible for Medicaid. Coverage for young adult dependents will be 'COBRA-like' coverage in that it will be at the Full Share Individual rate, and each dependent will enroll in their own individual policy.

The new option was signed into law on July 29, 2009 by Governor David Paterson and is a part of a measure that also allows employees who have lost their jobs the option to pay to continue health coverage that had been provided by their group health plan.

“Being able to provide your child with an option for health insurance until they are 29 years old in today’s difficult economy is a valuable benefit that I expect many families will take advantage of,” said Weitzman.

            Nassau County employees are covered under NYSHIP, but the law applies to any employee who is covered by health insurance in New York State.

The Comptroller sent out a mailing that details the guidelines for the extended coverage. It includes:

-Coverage for young adult dependents will be 'COBRA-like' coverage in that it will be at the Full Share Individual rate, and each dependent will enroll in their own Individual policy

-This benefit will be implemented for coverage beginning January 1, 2010.
-There will be an initial 12 Month Open Enrollment Period (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010), followed by an Annual Open Enrollment Period to be determined.
-Enrollments will be processed by agency Health Benefits Administrators, similar to the existing process for COBRA enrollees

-Information regarding this benefit will be sent to all enrollees and agencies by November 1, 2009.

The law extending dependents age to 29 and the COBRA period from 18 to 36 months was signed into law on July 29, 2009 by Governor David Paterson. For more information call the Comptroller’s Health Benefits Unit (516) 571-2369 or 2535.