Under the newly passed Affordable Care Act, U.S. families with children have a few more options when it comes to health insurance for their kids. Several key restrictions and prohibitions that previously made it difficult, if not impossible, to insure kids no longer exist. Health insurance for children, including both young children and adult children, offers parents peace of mind.
Benefits
The Affordable Care Act creates a bit more flexibility for families with children looking for health, vision and dental coverage for their dependents. The new law applies to every health insurance plan created after March 2010, according to the Wall Street Journal. Of particular interest to terminated workers is the new provision that allows them to place their children on the COBRA plan, which makes employers' group health-insurance plans available to former employees.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Previously uninsurable children with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, lupus or autism now qualify for health, vision and dental insurance under the Affordable Care Act. According to Healthcare.gov, the new law prohibits employer-based health plans and new individual plans from automatically rejecting children under 19 for coverage based on a pre-existing medical condition. This also includes disabilities. These provisions come into effect in 2010.
Dependent Coverage
Families with adult children can now place them under dependent coverage, if their policy has that provision, up to the age of 26. If adult children can get their own plan through work however, this option becomes void. This change is especially comforting to families with college-aged children going away from home for the first time, or adult children who have not fared well in the job market. An adult child does not have to be enrolled in college to qualify, and she can be married, although her spouse cannot be put on her parent's insurance plan, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Exchange Plans
State-run health insurance exchanges are private health insurance plans that will lower the cost of health, vision and dental insurance for families. Exchange plans achieve this through the creation of greater competition among existing private plans. Pregnancy, vision and dental coverage for children, and newborn care will all be covered, says Healthcare.gov.
Time Frame
Under the Affordable Care Act, the open-enrollment period for workers who wish to put their adult children on their health insurance begins in fall 2010 for the plan year commencing in January 2011. Some employers may allow earlier enrollment, according to the Wall Street Journal. Exchange plans are slated for implementation in 2014.
References
- Healthcare: Top 5 Things to Know
- Wall Street Journal; "Health Costs: Keep Your Kids Insured"; M.P. McQueen; October 2010
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