Growing list of insurance companies agrees to voluntarily provide coverage

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today welcomed the news that major insurance companies will begin to voluntarily provide 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.  Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine has indicated they will keep young people on policies beginning June 1st.
 
The new law, passed by Congress last month, requires health plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ discretion, effective in September.   
 
“Putting this policy into place early is going to keep Maine young people covered after they graduate from college this spring,” Pingree said.  “For many young people it is the difference between having health care coverage and losing it.”
 
Pingree said she had heard from many families concerned that some insurance companies were dragging their feet in implementing the changes and she has urged the Obama Administration to do whatever necessary to get the new policy in place quickly.  She says some insurance companies wanted to wait until the next “open enrollment period” after September 23, effectively putting off the change until next year in some cases.

“We made it very clear to Secretary Sebelius that the sooner insurance companies start covering 26 year olds, the better,” Pingree said. 
 
This week Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote to insurance companies offering to work with them in implementing this change in policy quickly.