"Young adults' ability to attain and secure health insurance coverage for themselves is often difficult. Ordinary transitions in and out of school and jobs throughout their 20s affect their ability to remain on their parent's or guardian's policy or become eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance. Entry level low-paying and temporary jobs typically do not offer health benefits. Purchasing health insurance in the individual market is unaffordable given that 50 percent of uninsured young adults reside in households with incomes below the federal poverty level.
To address this problem, State policymakers are proposing and enacting legislation that extends dependent benefits to young adults not enrolled in college full-time. In 1994, Utah become the first state to enact legislation allowing coverage for unmarried dependents to continue up to age 26, regardless of school enrollment status. A 2006 New Jersey law provides coverage for unmarried dependents up to age 31, as long as they do not have any dependents of their own. At least 30 states have now enacted similar legislation to extend dependent coverage regardless of enrollment in school."
This is what I've found. However, I still have a few questions:
1. Do I stay on the same health insurance plan as my parents, or is it some separate federal program?
2. Do I have to live at home for this to apply to me? (I currently live in a different state as my parents, but I am still on their health insurance as I am a full-time college student.)
3. Can I just take a break from college without risking the loss of any health insurance coverage?
4. When does this go into effect? (I have heard September 23, 2010 but I'm not sure.)
To address this problem, State policymakers are proposing and enacting legislation that extends dependent benefits to young adults not enrolled in college full-time. In 1994, Utah become the first state to enact legislation allowing coverage for unmarried dependents to continue up to age 26, regardless of school enrollment status. A 2006 New Jersey law provides coverage for unmarried dependents up to age 31, as long as they do not have any dependents of their own. At least 30 states have now enacted similar legislation to extend dependent coverage regardless of enrollment in school."
This is what I've found. However, I still have a few questions:
1. Do I stay on the same health insurance plan as my parents, or is it some separate federal program?
2. Do I have to live at home for this to apply to me? (I currently live in a different state as my parents, but I am still on their health insurance as I am a full-time college student.)
3. Can I just take a break from college without risking the loss of any health insurance coverage?
4. When does this go into effect? (I have heard September 23, 2010 but I'm not sure.)