| Most health insurances only allow coverage of | | | | - Is not married; |
| a dependent until a certain age. For Horizon | | | | |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey the age | | | | - Has no dependents of his/her own; |
| restriction was coverage would terminate at | | | | |
| the end of the year in which a dependent | | | | - Is either a resident of New Jersey or |
| turns 23. However this has changed with the | | | | enrolled as a full-time student at an |
| implementation of Chapter 375, a new mandate | | | | accredited public or private institution of |
| that allows coverage to continue until age | | | | higher education; |
| 30. There are some limitations and | | | | |
| restrictions but for the most part the new | | | | - Is not covered under any other group or |
| mandate is bringing joy to many over age | | | | individual health benefits plan and is not |
| dependents attempting to peruse further | | | | covered under Medicare; |
| schooling or for dependents who are unable to | | | | |
| provider health coverage for themselves. | | | | - Must have previously aged-out of their |
| | | | parent's group health plan, which is a |
| The new mandate does not apply to employers | | | | fully-insured plan issued in New Jersey and |
| with Administrative Services Only (ASO) | | | | Is the child of a parent who is actively |
| contracts however; ASO clients will have the | | | | covered under a group health plan, which is a |
| option to offer the continued coverage to | | | | fully-insured plan issued in. |
| their employees. For the most part all other | | | | |
| group coverage is included in its | | | | Another great thing is that even if a member |
| implementation. The best part is that a | | | | is eligible for coverage (with the exception |
| dependent does not even need to be living in | | | | of Medicare) they are not forced into taking |
| New Jersey as long as they are a full time | | | | it. They would still be eligible for Chapter |
| student and meet the other criteria for | | | | 375. |
| coverage. Something that varies however from | | | | |
| the normal Horizon policy is that the | | | | The biggest draw back is the cost. Chapter |
| dependent who elects Chapter 375 will only | | | | 375 is more costly then even COBRA coverage. |
| remain covered until their 30th birthday, not | | | | I would recommend to anyone who is about to |
| until the end of the year in which they turn | | | | become an over-age dependent elect COBRA |
| 30. | | | | coverage first and then once COBRA's |
| | | | limitations run out then at that point elect |
| According to Horizon's website Q&A on the new | | | | Chapter 375. The reason for this is that |
| Mandate eligibility must include: | | | | COBRA is generally cheaper than the Chapter |
| | | | 375's cost. This will save you money but gain |
| -Is the child of a subscriber who is less | | | | you the same coverage as you had under your |
| than age 30; | | | | parents contract. |
| | | | |