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Blue Plans Implement Dependents to Age 26 EARLY

4/23/10:  Earlier this week, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association announced that all 39 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the US have agreed to proactively change dependent eligibility limits on June 1, 2010.

The new healthcare reform legislation extends coverage to adult children up to age 26 effective plan years beginning September 23, 2010.  With renewal dates being spread across the next 12 months, many young people will be losing their coverage prior to the law being applied because of their age, student status, or graduation date.  Every Blue Cross and Blue Shield company has agreed to allow covered individuals under age 26 to remain on their parents' health insurance policies effective June 1. 

Now comes the difficult part – how each plan is going to apply this change.  Initial details have begun to surface, but we fully expect that Pennsylvania’s Blue Plans (Highmark, Capital, Blue Cross of NEPA and Independence) will provide greater detail surrounding this change in the next few days. 

As further clarification is available, Banyan Consulting will reach out to our clients and explain their carrier’s plan for implementation, company options and the impact on plans.