Non-dependent children can join FEHBP as of January 1st, 2011. The child doesn’t have to be your own. It can be your gay partner’s or someone else’s. If it is your own child, the child can be married and have their own employer-sponsored insurance. Almost any child living with a federal employee can be added. See the attachments from OPM. Some employees and retirees may overlook this important benefit change this Open Season.
OPM’s definition of “Foster Child” and “Step Child” is at
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/reference/handbook/fehb28.asp#FosterChildren.
Changes for Federal Benefits Programs under the Affordable Care Act
http://www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/bals/2010/10-201.pdf
Attachment: Health Reform Changes for Federal Benefits Programs Effective January 1, 2011
http://www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/bals/2010/10-201attachment.pdf
Where do you get good/any dental coverage with the Federal program?
What this means is that my son who works two jobs, who is NOT provided insurance at his full time job, and doesn’t work the minimum hours to qualify for insurance at his part time job, can be re-added as a dependent on my insurance and have his medical and dental covered until he’s 26. He hasn’t had any coverage since turning 22 and had to be removed from my insurance. He has had more health issues during that time than when he was covered. At least now I know that for a few more years he won’t have to be hesitant about seeking medical /dental help because he can’t afford it. And the price of individual coverage with a reasonable deductible is more than he can afford.
Please review the Information on implementation of the “Affordable Care Act” which is available from the Democratic Policy Committee at dpc.senate.gov/reform. In pertinent parts it states;
Reducing the Cost of Covering Early Retirees. Creates a new temporary reinsurance program to help companies that provide early retiree health benefits for those ages 55-64 offset the expensive cost of that coverage. Effective June 22, 2010.
Is there anyone who can tell me what this law means to me, as a person who is provide early retiree health benefits? Will my co-payment go down? Will OPM’s co-payment go down? Will I receive more income because of less cost for early retiree health benefits?
My co-payment is about $260. a month right now. Will I get a refund?
The new laws and inclusions are supposed to help offset future premium hikes. Although I don’t necessarily agree with covering adult ‘children’ that are married and have their own insurance. Seems a bit redundant. But the theory is that the more people in the pool, the lower the premiums. However, a major drawback is that the lower costs will take some time to be realized. In the interim, the premiums will continue to go up. Of course, higher premiums would have happened with or without the new health insurance laws. And one fact that needs to be kept in mind is that once raised, premiums won’t necessarily come back down. They’ll be adjusted for inflation, and presumably won’t increase by as much or as often (or both) as they would otherwise (i.e. without the larger pool).
yes,me, by all means, screw all the uninsured children. as long as you’ve got yours, screw ’em.
And how is this change going to control health care costs??? … rates are going up up up people… hold on!!!!