NAP- Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket

Medical Coverage for Under 26 familly members & Rite Care for Immigrant kids

RI Department of Health and Human Services released a rule on the health care reform provision allowing children up to age 26 to get
insurance through their parents' family coverage. 

Important Update on Immigrant Children and RIte Care
Most lawfully present immigrant children are now eligible for Medical Assistance (including RIte Care, RIte Share and Katie Beckett) as long as they meet other eligibility rules. This includes children who have "green cards" (lawful permanent residents) who no longer have to wait five years to be eligible for coverage. Children who are refugees or asylees and others who have a legal status are also eligible.

Information on the rule/provision -- including a fact sheet, Q&A, and the rules itself can be found at
http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/index.html#dependent_coverage
<http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/index.html#dependent_coverage> .
The Fact Sheet and Q&A both include a list of the insurance companies
that have volunteered to make this coverage available before the
required 9/23 implementation date. 



The public can comment on the rule until August 9.  If you have
suggestions for comments, please let the policy team know. 



A highlight from the Fact Sheet is below:

Access to Insurance: What Young Adults and Parents Need to Do:

*    Check for Immediate Options:  Private health insurance companies
that cover the majority of Americans have volunteered to provide
coverage earlier than the implementation deadline for young adults
losing coverage as a result of graduating from college or aging out of
dependent coverage on a family policy.  This stop-gap coverage, in many
cases, is available now.  Ask your employer and insurer about this
option.
*    Watch for Open Enrollment:  If early coverage is not an option
with your employer or insurance company, then young adults will qualify
for an open enrollment period to join their parents' family plan or
policy beginning on or after September 23, 2010. Insurers and employers
are required to provide notice for this special open enrollment period.
Watch for it or ask about it.
*    Expect an Offer of Continued Enrollment: Insurers and employers
that sponsor health plans will inform young adults of continued
eligibility for coverage until the age of 26.  To get the coverage,
young adults and their parents need not do anything but sign up and pay
for this option.