Not waiting for new law to take effect in September
(NDG Wire) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced last week that a growing number of insurance companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana and Kaiser Permanente have joined WellPoint and United Healthcare in providing coverage for graduating college seniors and young adults under the age of 26 in advance of the September start date included in the recently signed health insurance reform legislation.
The new law, which passed by Congress last month with Congresswoman Johnson’s support, required health plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy at their discretion.
This new law means greater access to more affordable coverage; greater accountability to end the worst practices of the insurance industry; greater innovation and competiveness in our economy; and greater stability and security for seniors, students, workers, entrepreneurs and small business owners.
“One in three young Americans has no health insurance now — and the announcements by these health insurers are a major step in the right direction,” says Congresswoman Johnson. “I hope other insurance companies will follow suit, and give graduating seniors and uninsured young Americans the peace of mind of an immediate offer of coverage. The law has given companies six months to prepare for the new coverage offer, but the sooner insurance companies provide stability and security to the most uninsured age group in America, the better off these young people will be.”
