6/26/09: NTEU National President Colleen Kelley today welcomed the introduction of legislation that would increase the maximum age to qualify for dependent coverage under the federal employees health benefits plan to age 25. The bill, H.R. 2978, was introduced last week by Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.).

“Young adults without health insurance are a serious and growing health care issue,” said President Kelley. “NTEU strongly supports congressional action that would provide dependents of federal employees with the option of continuing health coverage under their parent’s plan.”

At present, dependent children of federal employees lose their health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) when they turn 22. “These young adults are frequently in college, or out of school but with no job, or they have a job that does not have health benefits,” President Kelley said. There are also an increasing number of collegiate programs which run longer than the traditional four years. “Many young people do not complete college any more in four years, through no fault of their own,” she said.

President Kelley previously has testified to Congress about NTEU members whose situations illustrate the need for this legislation, including an NTEU member whose daughter lost coverage at age 22 while still attending college and working in a job that didn’t provide health insurance. Her parents were unable to afford a separate policy covering her. She suffered an accident, incurred $25,000 in medical expenses and had to get a full-time job to pay that debt while putting her college education on hold.

At least 17 states have taken action to extend coverage to dependents in private plans. “This is an area in which the federal government should lead, not follow,” Kelley said, adding that she applauds Rep Davis’ leadership on this issue.