WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer, announced today it will voluntarily enact a key component of President Barack Obama's health care reform to extend coverage for adult children of insured members before the mandate takes effect.
Each year in June, millions of young adults are no longer eligible as dependents on their parents' insurance policies because of their age, student status or other factors. Health care reform legislation, signed into law last month, will extend the dependent age for coverage to 26 for plan years beginning Sept. 23, 2010. As such, many individuals would face a coverage gap during the months before this provision is fully implemented.
As a proactive measure, WellPoint's affiliated health plans, working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and state regulators, will allow young men and women to remain on their parents' policies before the health care reform provision takes effect.
Beginning June 1, WellPoint's affiliated health plans will automatically retain the young adults on their parents' policies in both fully insured group and individual health plans. WellPoint's self-insured clients and members will have the option of not offering this extended coverage.
"Protecting access to health benefits for members is our first priority," said Bradley Fluegel, WellPoint's chief strategy and external affairs officer. "We are pleased to lead the way in advancing the intent of health care reform; increasing access to affordable, quality coverage."
Indianapolis-based Wellpoint is the licensee of Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield in Wisconsin.
WellPoint agrees to extend coverage to young adults
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