[OEBBBUSMAN] IMPORTANT dependent eligibility update effective June 1, 2010

[Business Managers-OEBB]

OEBB extending health coverage to eligible dependents up to age 26 and
those who no longer meet student and/or support requirements

 

Dear Benefits Administrator:

 

As you may be aware, new federal health care reform legislation will
require all group health plans, including the OEBB health plans, to
extend coverage to dependents up to age 26 for contracts going into
effect on or after September 1, 2010.   For OEBB the effective date of
this mandate is October 1, 2010.  In anticipation of this change, OEBB
will be implementing an early extension of coverage for overage
dependents. Effective June 1, 2010 OEBB plans will allow currently
insured dependents through age 25 to remain on a parent's OEBB plan
policy.  This early implementation allows dependents with birthdays
between June 1 and September 30, 2010, who would have normally aged-out
according to the educational entity's overage dependent rule, to
continue to be eligible for OEBB health care benefits until age 26.
Dependents who aged-out prior to June 1, 2010, may be added back to a
parent's OEBB coverage during the open enrollment period, beginning
August 15, for coverage effective October 1, 2010, provided they are
under 26 years of age.

 

For dependents who are under age 26 and would have lost eligibility
under the entity or OEBB eligibility criteria due to their student
status or not living in the employee's home at least 50 percent of the
time on or after June 1, 2010, employees can now leave these dependents
on the OEBB health plans.  Employees who have already removed dependents
under age 26 due to the full-time student and/or support requirements
will also have an opportunity to add those dependents back onto the OEBB
health plans during open enrollment for an October 1, 2010 effective
date. 

 

We encourage your entity to participate in this early implementation
process.  However, your entity may opt-out of early implementation by
sending an e-mail to oebb.benefits at state.or.us stating the desire to do
so no later than close of business May 26, 2010.

 

If your entity does not opt-out of this early implementation, dependents
under age 26 who would have otherwise aged-out June 1, 2010 through
September 30, 2010, will automatically remain covered. If a member
wishes to dis-enroll a dependent they must notify their entity within 31
days of a qualified status change.

 

Thank you!

 

Jackie Cowsill

Communications Coordinator

Oregon Educators Benefit Board

voice: (503) 378-5353

fax: (503) 378-5832

 

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