How to Ensure Health Coverage for Adult Children Up to Age 26

The new health law approved earlier this year will allow adult children up to age 26 to be covered family members under health insurance plans purchased by their parents or legal guardians, effective at the start of the next benefit plan year. For employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, that means January 1, 2011.

There are steps employees can take prior to January 1 to make sure dependent children who turn 22 — the age limit under existing rules — continue receiving FEHB coverage.

-- Dependent children who reach their 22nd birthday between now and January 1 are automatically covered for an additional 31 days.
-- Dependent children — or their parents or legal guardians — can continue receiving FEHB coverage beyond the 31-day period by electing Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) for up to 36 months. The child will receive “self-only” coverage.
-- TCC is not subject to underwriting or pre-existing condition exclusions.
-- USPS will not contribute to the TCC premium, which also includes a 2-percent administrative fee.
-- TCC-eligible children can discontinue TCC coverage once they become eligible under the increased age limits that take effect January 1, 2011.

An employee has 60 days from the child’s 22nd birthday to notify the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSCC) that the child has turned 22. Or, the child may notify the HRSSC within 60 days and request TCC enrollment information. Contact HRSSC at 877-477-3273 (Option 5).

The 31-day extension of coverage and TCC do not apply to the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Dependent children are eligible for FEDVIP coverage after they reach age 22 only if they’re incapable of self-support due to a physical or mental condition that existed before their 22nd birthday.

For additional information, go to http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/faq/tcc.asp.