Amendment to the Dependent to Age 30 (31) Continuation Benefit:: Stratford Financial Group

Effective January 1, 2009, the Dependent to Age 30 Continuation Benefit has changed to the Dependent Under 31 (DU31) Mandate. Now, dependents younger than 31 but older than the limiting age for dependent children stated in the group health benefits plan will be permitted to elect continued coverage if the required criteria is met.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has amended its plans to allow qualified dependents the opportunity to continue dependent coverage up the age 31. The revised mandate defines a dependent as the child of a subscriber, by blood or by law, who:

Is 30 years of age or younger;

Is unmarried and is not in a civil union or a domestic partnership;

Has no dependents of his or her own;

Is either a New Jersey resident or is enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited school; and – Is not currently the named subscriber under a group or individual health benefits plan, church plan or entitled to benefits under Medicare; Provides evidence of prior creditable coverage or receipt of benefits from another plan.

An over-age dependent who had his or her 30th birthday before January 1, 2009, may apply as of that date and any date thereafter before his or her 31st birthday, to make a DU31 election. Over-age dependents who are currently covered and who turn 30 in 2009 will have their benefits extended to age 31. Aging-out and other qualifying events are no longer conditions of eligibility.

The over-age dependent must make a positive election to continue coverage under the primary insured’s (subscriber’s) health plan. Your client’s employees are required to affirmatively elect dependent continuation coverage and submit the enrollment and eligibility forms to their insurance carrier.