insurance coverage for students up to the age of 26

hi Terry, I listen to you all the time on WGN. Today, (the 25th) I heard you talking about insurance coverage for students up to the age of 26. I am divorced, my children are 20 and 22 and they are covered under their fathers insurance. He just retired from UPS. I always thought under Obama care that they would still be insured up until the age of 26 no matter they were in school, part-time or full-time, or not in school at all. When I called their dads insurance company, they told me that they will only be covered if they were full-time students. That seems to contradict the information that I thought I had. Is it up to the individual insurance companies? Thank you so much for your answer!

Terry Says:  Everything I have read about Obamacare says that children under age 26 can stay on their parents’ plan.  I have never seen a requirement that the children must be full-time students to qualify.  In fact, here is a link to the Obamacare Facts page on that issue!  I see no requirement that they be students.

I would definitely check back with the most senior people in the HR department, because UPS is a very big company and sure to be compliant about the issue. You may have been given mis-information.  Also ask if the father’s coverage continues after retirement. That’s the issue that concerns me most.  His retirement may impact his coverage, and thus that of your children.  Please write back and let me know what develops.