<p>Thanks for posting this! I had no idea. My ds went to a dentist appt. this summer, and then on the usual claim processing form that comes from the insurance company there was a space for us to fill in his college information. Sometimes I don’t even look at those claim forms so I probably wouldn’t have noticed it except for the fact that the dentist called me to tell me that I needed to contact the insurance company about the claim. I never connected it with him being 19, I just thought it was one of those random, annoying things insurance companies make you do. I’m calling Anthem tomorrow just to be sure he’s covered!</p>
<p>Mods or other powers that be, this seems like a thread that is worthy of a sticky. Today is my kids’ 17th bday; they will actually be 19 when they go off to college; thank goodness I have read this thread and will know to take action. Huge thanks to all. Quite scary.</p>
<p>sk8rmom, Thanks so much for posting the link about Michelle’s Law. It’s about time!</p>
<p>My son had to take a leave of absence from college when he became seriously ill. I called my husband’s employer to ask a question about medical coverage for my son’s condition and was shocked to learn the company was dropping his insurance coverage because he was no longer a full-time student. Here’s the kicker: The insurance company had a policy that such dependents would still retain medical coverage, but my husband’s company chose to override the insurance company.</p>
<p>I was incensed. I made call after call to upper level management in my husband’s company (a large multinational.) An exec finally called me back and said the company was making an exception for my son. That was all well and good, but what about the other families in the company who were affected by this stupid policy?</p>
<p>Many thanks to those responsible for Michelle’s Law.</p>
<p>Thanks to the OP. I contacted my insurance company today (son will turn 19 in a couple of months) and was pleasantly surprised to find out that he is covered until he is 25 whether he is a full-time student or not.</p>
<p>One less thing to worry about!</p>
<p>JDA, I guess I should have put this in the originial post, but our HMO policy also had him covered until he turned 23. (your guy is lucky for 2 more years!) </p>
<p>From some “system error” he was dropped after he turned 19. I guess because other Anthem policies have the dependents become terminated after age 18, he got mixed up somehow. You may want to call your ins comp AFTER his bday just to double check your guy’s status. It is amazing how a small computer system error could cause many headaches.</p>
<p>Our insurance company is BC/BS. They require us to provide proof of attendance (bills, marked paid) for our full time college student at the beginning of EACH semester.</p>
<p>I haven’t had any insurance since January. :(</p>
<p>I was terminated too and though my dad has given them proof of my going to school they keep “losing the papers,” have had my dad personally write two letters having to tell them why I should be put back on the insurance, when I should be on the insurance blah blah blah. Its still awaiting a decision at the office.</p>
<p>Its really ridiculous. He pays a lot for the insurance being a business owner. I’m healthy, I just need some check ups and haven’t been able to get any for quite some time. And he says he’d have too much trouble changing insurers because my mom had a heart attack.</p>
<p>I don’t have the money to get my own insurance. :(</p>
<p>My D won’t be 18 until 10 days after we leave her at college, but this same thing just happened to us! Her father was supposed to maintain coverage on her, but has consistently refused to provide her, or me, with even an insurance card- despite the letters from the court directing him to do so. She went to pick up an Rx and was told that
“she was no longer insured”!! It turns out the company had switched ID numbers and had “forgotten” to transfer her to the new policy. Thankfully, it only took a few phone calls to make things right, but I’m glad that it happened here and not after she was at school. For whatever it’s worth, the company did tell me that this is “their busiest time of the year”, so mistakes will be more common, but to avoid sudden “surprises” check coverage before your S/D leaves for school out of town.</p>
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<p>Darn. I have BCBS, too. Why do they make it so hard? It’s as if they don’t want to provide insurance to kids they’ve been covering for years (at a profit I might add.) DS won’t turn 19 for another year, but I’m soooo glad I found out about this now. Great thread.</p>
<p>SOad- DO NOT accept any garbage about the company having to “make a decision”, if you are still in school and meet the age requirements, you ARE covered. If you are close to the location, take something written on your college letterhead down to the main office and insist upon talking to a supervisor. Make and keep a list of the names of everyone you and your dad speak to and just keep climbing up the chain of commmand. The longer you let them keep you waiting, the less incentive they have to bother to deal with you at all. Call your MD, get a check-up and take the bills with you-the insurance company is liable for them and must reimburse you.</p>
<p>We were proactive (thanks to CC, I’m sure), but we’ve had no problem with BC Anthem and “guest services” for My D, in college 3000 miles away, including numerous snail mail reminders.Just a signature: No proof requird.</p>
<p>Now… getting her to USE it…</p>