On the recordJune 8, 2010
This amendment would affect the Federal employees' health benefit plans by allowing the administrator to change the current rules to enroll children up to the age of 26. Currently, the restriction for Federal employees is that they can only enroll unmarried children to age 22. There are 8 million Federal employees and retirees covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. As I am sure everyone is aware, under the law recently passed and signed by President Obama, we have now extended coverage for children up to the age of 26. However, that becomes effective under the law for plans entered into after September 23, 2010. For most plans, the requirement to include children being able to enroll up to age 26 would begin on January 1 of next year when the plan year begins. Private insurance companies have responded. They understand that this is not really a cost issue and that it makes sense to allow the children of the plan holders up to the age of 26 to be enrolled immediately.
