Question about health insurance for adult child

[pat fan]

As for "kids" up to age 27 being on parents insurance, sorry but 27 aren't kids. I personally think it's added more problems than it's solved. My DS (27) has insurance through his company and has since he started working full time after college. His deductibles are high with his new company, but it's really catastrophic coverage which is all he needs. He has no pre-existing. His wife, also 27, has COBRA because when DS changed jobs, the insurance he had was much better than his current and she does have pre-existing. My oldest DS (30) has been off our insurance since he graduated college and he took a catastrophic plan for 3 months til he started with his current company that has good coverage, but he paid for it, not us. I'd much rather see insurance reform and tort reform that what's headed our way.

AMEN sister (or brother)

 

[daughtersrus]

Thanks for the info everyone! I knew that my fellow DIS'ers would know.

Just wondering though, did this change within the last year? At his previous job (he got laid off a few months ago), he was paying for his own coverage because our benefits coordinator told me that I wasn't allowed to cover him anymore. I hope he wasn't paying $29 a week then for nothing.

The change depends in the type of pan you have. Our insurance is through DH's union. Because it's a "self insured" plan the changes made because of ACA went into place at different times. My DD (27 now) was not allowed to be on DH's plan until I think June of this past year because school district she teaches in offered insurance. It wasn't worth adding her back in at thy point becaus she has zero copays with her plan at work. DD (23) graduated college last Dec. She also got a job teaching last Jan but since it was a temp job until June she wasn't eligible for insurance so she could stay on DH's plan. She was rehired as a permanent teacher after her contact in June ended. at this point the rules changed and she was able to stay on DH's plan at no extra cost, so she opted out of getting insurance with her district.

 

[daughtersrus]

My DH works for a Fed Gov contractor with about 1500 employees. His company pays 100% of our health, dental and vision insurance. I am a Federal employee and I don't take out insurance because of that. If they started denying me coverage because I have a job, it would cost me probably around $300/month. I'm part time (32 hr/week) so I would actually have to pay more for my insurance than a full-time employee would (Gov would pay a lower portion). It would actually be cheaper for us to pay a $1500 penalty than for me to take out insurance for myself.

As for "kids" up to age 27 being on parents insurance, sorry but 27 aren't kids. I personally think it's added more problems than it's solved. My DS (27) has insurance through his company and has since he started working full time after college. His deductibles are high with his new company, but it's really catastrophic coverage which is all he needs. He has no pre-existing. His wife, also 27, has COBRA because when DS changed jobs, the insurance he had was much better than his current and she does have pre-existing. My oldest DS (30) has been off our insurance since he graduated college and he took a catastrophic plan for 3 months til he started with his current company that has good coverage, but he paid for it, not us. I'd much rather see insurance reform and tort reform that what's headed our way.

Maybe I'm not reading this correctly. It seems that you're saying that spouses should be covered even if they have the option of getting insurance with their employer but children shouldn't be able to have the coverage?

 

[mhfrau]

I'm very curious about everyone that has their adult children on their health insurance. Does that make you the "responsible party" for billing purposes? My son is 17, and on the very rare occasion that he goes to the doctor, I always have to fill out who the "responsible party" is when I put in the insurance info?

I'm mostly thinking about people who have say, a 25 year old married daughter who is pregnant and your insurance is covering her maternity care. Also, what happens when they have a child also? Are grandkids on you policies? How does the spouse fit in?

I've really never thought about this, and I am honestly curious?!

 

[lunsusie]

I'm very curious about everyone that has their adult children on their health insurance. Does that make you the "responsible party" for billing purposes? My son is 17, and on the very rare occasion that he goes to the doctor, I always have to fill out who the "responsible party" is when I put in the insurance info?

I'm mostly thinking about people who have say, a 25 year old married daughter who is pregnant and your insurance is covering her maternity care. Also, what happens when they have a child also? Are grandkids on you policies? How does the spouse fit in?

I've really never thought about this, and I am honestly curious?!

My adult son (age 25) is a full time grad student and is covered under my group health insurance where I work; however, ever since he became 18, when he has needed medical care he has signed as the "responsible party" and any bills have come in his name alone.

 

[mhfrau]

My adult son (age 25) is a full time grad student and is covered under my group health insurance where I work; however, ever since he became 18, when he has needed medical care he has signed as the "responsible party" and any bills have come in his name alone.

Thanks lunsusie! since this will be coming up for us in the not to distant future, I was very curious. The whole tie between an adult child considered "dependent coverage", yet them being legally adult seemed at cross purposes. The joys of young adulthood!

 

[MrsPete]

My DS (27) has insurance through his company and has since he started working full time after college. His deductibles are high with his new company, but it's really catastrophic coverage which is all he needs.

I was going to say that this is probably what he needs: A small policy that won't cover a trip to the doctor for strep throat, but will be there if he's seriously injured in an accident (or similar). This type of policy costs much, much less than traditional health insurance.

 

[MrsPete]

I'm very curious about everyone that has their adult children on their health insurance. Does that make you the "responsible party" for billing purposes? My son is 17, and on the very rare occasion that he goes to the doctor, I always have to fill out who the "responsible party" is when I put in the insurance info?

I'm mostly thinking about people who have say, a 25 year old married daughter who is pregnant and your insurance is covering her maternity care. Also, what happens when they have a child also? Are grandkids on you policies? How does the spouse fit in?

I've really never thought about this, and I am honestly curious?!

We carry our 20-year old full-time college daughter on our insurance, but in her two years of college thusfar, her only medical expense has been one trip to the school health center for a minor illness. Was it bronchitus? I can't even remember. Admittedly, she's been very healthy, and this hasn't been a problem.

Once she graduates, I anticipate she'll have her own health insurance (and car insurance). I can imagine us continuing to carry her for a few months while she makes the transition from student to worker, but I don't expect to do this indefinitely, nor do I see us continuing to carry her until she's married, pregnant, has children. She's a healthy, smart, capable young woman, and she'll be able to take care of herself.

 

[mhfrau]

We carry our 20-year old full-time college daughter on our insurance, but in her two years of college thusfar, her only medical expense has been one trip to the school health center for a minor illness. Was it bronchitus? I can't even remember. Admittedly, she's been very healthy, and this hasn't been a problem.

Once she graduates, I anticipate she'll have her own health insurance (and car insurance). I can imagine us continuing to carry her for a few months while she makes the transition from student to worker, but I don't expect to do this indefinitely, nor do I see us continuing to carry her until she's married, pregnant, has children. She's a healthy, smart, capable young woman, and she'll be able to take care of herself.

That's what I've always assumed we would do for our son. I can't imagine having him on our insurance once he is done with college and in his own job.

 

[tripletots]

My husband and I both work for large nationwide companies and I have not heard anything about either place dropping coverage on spouses if they can be covered elsewhere. Maybe this is in smaller businesses?

I am a SAHM, but my DH's work would require me to be covered at my job if they offer coverage. But I am covered through my DH's work since I am unemployed.

 

[lauti]

I am a SAHM, but my DH's work would require me to be covered at my job if they offer coverage. But I am covered through my DH's work since I am unemployed.

This is true for me too. My husbands company has about 300 employees. If I had access to health care elsewhere, there would be a hefty surcharge if I chose to be covered by my DHs plan.

 

[Green Tea]

One thing to note, the coverage is not available thru the child's 27th year as someone mentioned. The month they turn 26 is considered a qualifying event for the person to either join their employer's policy or get a policy on the marketplace. They can not stay on a parent's policy after they turn 26.


Our policy would cover maternity expenses if our daughter was on the policy prior to the 26th birthday. The baby would NOT be covered.

Even if a young adult is married they can stay on the parent policy though the spouse can not join. The child can also rejoin if they have previously been on an employer's policy.

 

[Belle0101]

I'm very curious about everyone that has their adult children on their health insurance. Does that make you the "responsible party" for billing purposes? My son is 17, and on the very rare occasion that he goes to the doctor, I always have to fill out who the "responsible party" is when I put in the insurance info?

I'm mostly thinking about people who have say, a 25 year old married daughter who is pregnant and your insurance is covering her maternity care. Also, what happens when they have a child also? Are grandkids on you policies? How does the spouse fit in?

I've really never thought about this, and I am honestly curious?!

DS is an adult but is still on DH's insurance, since he moved out I asked how the "Responsible Party" would be handled. With the medical group we use, office policy is that the "Responsible Party" is the person who carries the insurance. I can understand that for a minor but an adult? Not so much.

But, that's just at the medical group we use. It could be different at other practices.

 

[mguilford1]

At my Dr. my son is over 18 so even if we carry his insurance he is responsible for whatever they do not pay. My son pays the $35 a week extra that we pay to have him on our policy and if the place he is working for doesnt offer him coverage as good as mine I think he is very smart to pay the $35 for mine. Now a days even if you have a job some employers can not afford to offer good insurance to their employees. I dont see anything wrong with my son making the smartest choice for coverage.

 

[lunsusie]

One thing to note, the coverage is not available thru the child's 27th year as someone mentioned. The month they turn 26 is considered a qualifying event for the person to either join their employer's policy or get a policy on the marketplace. They can not stay on a parent's policy after they turn 26.

This is not always the case. With my group insurance policy, coverage is available through the end of the year that the child turns 26; it does not end at the 26th birthday.

 

[Lita]

This is not always the case. With my group insurance policy, coverage is available through the end of the year that the child turns 26; it does not end at the 26th birthday.

My insurance ended at my daughter's 26th birthday. Not the end of the calendar year. Received a notice from my employer stating the date her coverage ended.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Lisa71]

DS is an adult but is still on DH's insurance, since he moved out I asked how the "Responsible Party" would be handled. With the medical group we use, office policy is that the "Responsible Party" is the person who carries the insurance. I can understand that for a minor but an adult? Not so much.

But, that's just at the medical group we use. It could be different at other practices.

You cannot cover children that are not your legal responsibility so grandkids and spouses cannot be added. They sent a flyer around my work that included some of those questions. The grandchild would need to be on the spouses policy or get one or their own.

 

[tlh0726]

DS is an adult but is still on DH's insurance, since he moved out I asked how the "Responsible Party" would be handled. With the medical group we use, office policy is that the "Responsible Party" is the person who carries the insurance. I can understand that for a minor but an adult? Not so much.

But, that's just at the medical group we use. It could be different at other practices.

^this.

 

[nyrebecca]

I work for a health insurance company and quite a few of our policies have an option to extend coverage past the age of 26 for your children if they had served in the military. There are forms to fill out, but basically for every year that they served we extend an additional year of coverage.

 

[IDoDis]

Thanks for the info everyone! I knew that my fellow DIS'ers would know. Just wondering though, did this change within the last year? At his previous job (he got laid off a few months ago), he was paying for his own coverage because our benefits coordinator told me that I wasn't allowed to cover him anymore. I hope he wasn't paying $29 a week then for nothing.

This part of Obamacare where children can stay on a parent's plan until the age of 26 has been in effect since Sept. 23, 2010. It was the first part of the law that went into effect earlier than the rest of the provisions. Therefore, if your insurance plan provided dependent coverage prior to this date the insurance provider was required to not drop the child's coverage if they were under 26 years old unless they had other employer coverage.