Return to Article: Bill would allow kids to remain in the federal employee health plan longer
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88407
i would like to say to a couple people that they have things completely wrong and should look at certain situations through the young adults eyes. First, to Jim posted on June 30th, 09, Im completely an adult and pay for everything on my own except for insurance! Just because im in college and cant afford to pay the outragious costs of an indiviual plan does NOT mean i am not a adult. Second to, Rob, posted June 29th, 09, like i said before i pay for everything on mine own except insurance, i am not single, nor do i have an illigimate children, and i only live at home due to the fact that i am in college to become a nurse so that one day i can save sorry SOBs like yourself. This new law will put many students and families minds at ease while they finish up their education. Yes, i believe that young adults over the age of 22 that are not still in school full-time should be kicked off their health insurance as they do not have circumstances limiting them from getting a full time job that would in able them to pay for a decent plan. Try and be more respectful of those young adults who are going to college to help better this world in the future and quite possibly save your life someday.
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87822
I'm surprised that the age limit currently stands at 22. Most private policies carry dependent, full-time students through the age of 24.
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87802
This is long overdue change for Federal Employees. OPM has failed to act to change this because it is currently written into the law and has to have a legislative change. Bush Administration chose to ignore the need even when supposedly trying to change employee benefits to help with recruitment. They also stole a billion a year from us with the Medicare D supplement that we were supposed to get but Bush administration refused to allow OPM to apply for. Many states require insurance coverage up to age 25, most large plans cover children to age 25 and Military is already covered to age 23 this bill would raise Military to 25 also. Many have commented above not knowing the facts. Even the insurance companies agree the cost of doing this is minimal. The premiums would be negotiated as they are currently so it is not a golden freebie.
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87630
The age increase for dependent health care coverage is a great idea. If it's needed, it would be available. For those who do not think it would be a good idea because the government would be footing the bill probably wouldn't think twice about being in favor of the opportunity if their employer offered the benefit. I'm quite sure they would not decline the benefit. Maybe they should lobby for an increase in age for dependents for their insurance.
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87605
When my children turned 22 and were still in college, we were offered, at a staggering cost of over $600 EACH a month to cover them thru our Gov't ins plan for up to 2 more years. We opted to purchase them a minimal "civilian" health insurance policy. For a total cost of $300 ($150 ea)per month for each child was much more afforable but it could have come at a much higher price. What we didn't know was if something would have happened during the time we insured our own it could have been considered a pre-existing condition for a new policy and we were not expecting to insure our children for the rest of their lives. Unfair? Absolutely! But considering it all, we would do it all over again if we had to. We didn't expect others to pay for our children's health care...and I certainly don't want my gov't premimums to go up. If they can figure out an additional "fair" cost to charge the gov't employee for the coverage I'm all for it. $600/mo per child is way too expensive for the average gov't employee. Why don't schools offer health plans any more? A student plan offered through the gov't would be awesome and as long as they are a full time student they should be covered regardless of age.
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87596
That's grand for fed workers but that stuff doesn't happen in private industry. Why should the taxpayer have to pick up the tab an additional three years on your brats? Yooo hoooo - 25 isn't a child but a young adult.
"at little or no cost to the government" someone wrote. Are you whacked? Stupid? Both. If it's at little cost to the gov, hell, we should ALL be covered by the government regardless if we're on the fed payroll (read TEAT) or not.
stop your whining and ante up. The rest of us do. I work for a private company that pays half of an individual's BCBS but NONE of the family plan. Do you know the chunk that takes our of their paycheck?
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87541
It's wonderful for anyone who benefits while someone else foots the bill. Whatever happended to paying your own way? I oppose extending this coverage. By age 22 these young people (and dependent grandchildren?) should be looking out for themselves. I had three children in college all at the same time. If they were still there after age 22, I paid for their insurance. It's temporary. Our premiums will certainly rise if extended coverage is provided. I would rather see Congress pass a bill that would allow federal workers an option to just cover themselves and a spouse (2 people) instead of having to enroll in a more expensive family plan in order to provide coverage for just a spouse (especially in retirement). After the kids are gone, we are still forced to select a family plan coverage just for 2 people. Unlike other ins plans, government workers only have two options - self only or family plan.
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87535
I don't know why this bill did not pass the first time it was proposed. The age group in question is the most actuarially sound group for health insurance coverage. They are college students, or recent graduates, which in most (not all) cases indicate some level of responsibility for their welfare since they are trying to improve their status in society. They are young and in the best sustainable physical condition they will ever be in during their life span. What I mean about sustainable is that it easier to maintain (or improve) whatever physical condition the body is in or the individual wants to achieve. After age 35, it's down, down, down into the valley of degeneration and harder to reach, maintain, and/or sustain levels of fitness that were much easier to do so under the age of 30. The parent's insurance premiums should not have increase for children 25 and under.
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87454
Two of my kids, attending jr college and still live with me, will lose and be unable to obtain insurance, due to their pre-existing conditions, when they turn 22 next year. I wholeheartedly support this bill.
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86580
My family will be faced with this issue very soon. I support the bill to increase Federal healtcare coverage from age 22 to age 25. This will ultimately prevent bigger healthcare costs in later years and reduce the stress in lots of families in these economic times.
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83503
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: #1 I would not sleep at night if I "Worked for the Federal Government."Penny pays $400.00 per month for familiy coverage. I pay $1400.00 per month. FEP has no deductable, I have a $1500.00 deductable. FEP pays for Fake peckers, and Bariatric surgery, Mine does not. Oh, did I mention they are both BCBS. Obama care will eliminate my individual policy. It will elimanate the FEP also. BCBS makes money off individual policies, and loose on FEP. Fat people and FRee peckers cost money, and I pay with taxes, and with my overpriced BCBS policy. Obamacare will put us all except congress, and the President on MEDICAID. MEDICAID sucks now and will be worse with OBAMACARE. People will riot when they find out Obama Lied, and I would hate to be a Federal Employee if that happens. WAKE UP
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83481
I support this bill and hope it passes. If state employees pay for family coverage and their dependent children are covered until the age of 25, why shouldn't federal employees have the same thing. I have to pay for family coverage even after my child turns 22 since I still have a spouse. My health insurance is not free, contrary to what some people think.
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82916
What a great move to reduce the ranks of the uninsured! Kudos to the forward-thinking among us!!
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82894
If this bill is approved, will the TTC get extended? Lots of students are taking long careers like medical school and need a good health insurance........
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82740
Extending FEHB from 22 to 25 is a win/win situation for all, especially if parent is already paying for a family plan. Who can afford Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC)cost? Given the current economic and unemployment crisis, how could these kids pay for their health benefits without a job? The simple fix is to extend the FEHB family plan for kids up to the age of 25. If Pres Obama priority is to provide health care for every citizen, the FEHB could help achieve this by allowing fed parent to cover their child under the FEHB family plan.
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82693
As the Mother of a college kiddo, who will be 22 next May but still has 2 years of college to complete (he started kindergarten at 6)- I hoping this takes place! My son will have to go without coverage because I cannot afford COBRA. I hope my representatives in PA take a look at this and show their support.
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82677
Another factor to consider is that many colleges these days are structured so that it is virtually impossible to graduate in 4 years any more, so that many students need extended health insurance coverage.
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82166
It's good to see the Federal health insurance benefit possibly being brought in line with private sector health benefits in regards to age coverage limits. I pay almost $400/month toward my Federal Health Insurance...it's far from free! A lot of private sector insurance benefits are free to the employee.
To those referring to college students as lazy...how sad and ignorant. My daughter is paying her way through college at $16,000/year so she can work in the alternative energy field to help find cheaper sources of energy for people. If nobody went to college, who would you go to for medical help (medical school is 8+ years!!)? Who would teach in schools? If a loved one of yours was murdered, who would prosecute the offender? I think you people who talk like that are the ones who need to "grow up."
To those "concerned" taxpayers, who this wouldn't affect in the first place, remember that public health care assistance programs are income based programs. Once graduated, those "lazy" college students are able to seek better paying jobs and will not be one of the individuals/families needing assistance later. This would just make it a little easier for students to get through college without a major medical financial situation that would force them to quit. Give them a break!
PM
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82017
Thank you RichZ! I assume Dan K did not consider that some kids, like myself, have had a bit more to worry about than hangnails. Try bone cancer and several hip and femur replacements for starters. I'm about to turn 22 and have previously been covered under my dad's FEP plan. I have no clue how to afford health insurance that would cover me after my medical history. I'm putting myself through college and am nervous about finding a job with benefits in this economy. And it's quite scary to think about being uninsured with a health history like mine.
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81980
Dan K gets his facts wrong, as usual, and argues in non sequiturs. For Dan's information, Civil Servants are still at least 20% behind their private sector counterparts, since the "catchup" law has never actually caught their pay up. Extending health benefits, at essentially no cost to the employee or we taxpayers, has nothing to do with inadequate Federal pay, or the combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. Instead of mindlessly protesting a no-cost health benefit for Civil Servants' college children, DK's oddball outrage would be better aimed at getting the same benefits for the children of our soldiers. 40% of our soldiers, by the way, are Reserve and Guard component adults pulled from their private-sector jobs and their families, rather than teenage enlistees - much of the other 60% is career military, of course.
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81979
All you people complaining about Fed Employee benefits should stop! Get a Gov job like the rest of us and be quiet!!!!
Kids are not being lazy because they are still in college at 22.
I think Insurance companies should still have to pay for kids while in college, child support does.
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81930
Is there no decency left in the federal government?/ CS are already being paid twice what their private sector counterparts receive, coupled with a gold plated retirement system and still its not enough and they want more. Its time your little darling grow up and start acting like adults. We have young men and women 18 yrs old serving in Iraq and your babies are crying about hangnails. Just when do they become adults ?? When they are 50??
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81926
As so many others did, Cracked & Wired gets it completely wrong. FEHB Self & Family coverage costs the employee *and the government* exactly the same amount whether the child's coverage stops at 20, 21, 22, or even 30. Assuming there are at least two other family members, of course - usually this means mom & dad, if not other siblings.
The only one who has a right to bitch about extending coverage is the insurance company, who is liable for expenses for 2 more years. **Your tax dollars are not paying for the extended 2 years.** You might make the argument that the FEHB monthly cost will be raised by the insurance companies to cover the extra 2 years, but this is unlikely as the annual claims from adults in their early 20's can generally be expected to be low to nil, leaving no cost basis for raising health insurance premiums.
It's absolutely amazing how little many of the commentors know about how the FEHB actually works.
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81795
Unfortunately, this will not aid me with the care of my children since my daughter is out of college and now on her own employer health care plan. However, my daughter turned 22 while in college. Rather than pay the exorbitant cost of COBRA coverage under the federal employees plan, I paid for a private health insurance plan through Golden Rule. While many people criticize paying for other people's children and do not like this proposal, this would bring the federal sector employee's up to par with the private sector in many respects. All of my daughter's room mates parent's employer plans covered their children until age 24 if they were still in college. My relatives children were also similarly covered until 24. I was able to get a very good amount of coverage (without maternity care)for my daughter at a much lower premium through a private plan Of course, dad had to have a heart-to heart talk with my daughter regarding her coverage and the importance of abstinence from certain desires as the only sure way to avoid maternity.
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81785
Well, my child was NOT lazy and made her way through college. It took her 6 months to locate a job during which we paid for outside basic insurrance coverage at $120/month. Not a lot, but the Davis bill would of been nice. To late for us but not for others.
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81781
Passing this would be benefial on many different levels. Dealing with your child going to college, the tasks of applying for scholarships, grants, loans, etc, then the added stress of finding an afforable insurance policy for your child when they turn 22 really puts a huge strain on families. My child has had some kidney issues requiring surgery and several tests. So far, in addition to a thousand dollar copay for a CT Scan we have $12,000 in bills from surgeries a year ago. I hope you listen to the pleas of the people and pass this important bill.
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81727
Nice try Michelle but just like the Republican parties hero said, "There you go again." All those little angels of yours are in college studying to be lawyers, doctors, and farmers to benefit all of us; however, there is no doubt that you and your "desires" will bitch about excessive taxation to support an aging populace so as to yet again not pay your fair share much less your own way. Besides, there's more than a few that would argue against spawning another generation of lawyers!
Yeah, I do wear bifocals - that just means I've been around long enough to recognize you for what you are... Do whatever you like, just STOP making me pay for what you do!
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81658
My son, a college student, was recently diagnosed with cancer and spent his 22nd birthday receiving chemotherapy. His FEHB coverage expired 31 days later. He applied for new insurance but was denied "for medical reasons." COBRA will cost me $499 a month to maintain his coverage, but that's cheap compared to the cost of his treatment ($1,500+/day for chemo, $400 office visits, $2,000 radiologic exams, $100 prescriptions...). He will be receiving treatment for nearly a year and when it's over he will have a year of college to finish. I am immensely thankful for the COBRA option, but the Davis bill would be a great help for families.
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81642
"...introduce a bill requiring personnal responsibility"; "I have to pay for everything so should they"; "...you can't ask taxpayers to pay premiums for lazy children"; "The transformation to the Nanny State continues!"; "Have all the children you want, but STOP making me pay for your "desires." "; ah, so many people with such limited vision.
These "lazy" "desires" are in college to learn to be doctors, lawyers, farmers, computer designers, teachers, scientists, etc. Most of them don't start college until the age of 19, which means they won't get their BA until they're 23. No one EXPECTS to get sick when they're young, but it happens and having insurance takes a burden off both the student and the parent.
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81638
What a crock. Since when is 25 years old considered a "child"? More Socialist ideas. Goes along with the paid leave after giving birth. What a bunch of leeches.
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81621
Kudos to the Senator who is putting for this bill. My daughter is 24 and got kicked off my insurance at 22, when still in college, graduate school, etc. She still has no insurance, while working in a job w/o insurance. She needs inhalers for asthma that are $150 a pop. I hope this passes, my son is 19 and in college, and approaching the deadline for this also
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81617
I adopted my only two grandchildren, one of which will be going to law school after two more years in college. The worst thing financially is to lose her health insurance coverage while paying for her education!! The government life insurance which is only $2000 is already gone so I now pay for private life insurance for her but health insurance continuance is the most wonderful help I could possibly hope for at this time. Students going to college for Masters degrees, PhD, Law School or Medical School certainly need the additional years coverage and so do the parents!! Pray for this bill to pass!!! Don't penalize us for having kids with huge goals!!!
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81616
Either you are a dependant or you aren't. You can't be both. If you are a dependant then you are not an adult and should have no rights as an adult. No voting etc. Make up your minds.
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81612
I hope this bill pass. I have a daughter still in college, turn 22 May 2010. I was worried about getting separate insurance with payment and still tution payment.This is a great idea to support students that are still in college.
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81609
As a federal retiree, my daughter turned 22 6 months ago. She is currently in college and I had to purchase continuation of coverage of health insurance which costs $378 per month. This reduction in my annuity is a tremendous burden. My friends who are state employees (Florida) have health coverage for their children until 25. Hopefully this bill will get out committee quickly.
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81606
I agree with the extended coverage. My son is 21 and 4 months and is a Type 1 Diabetic. What are we to do? This is just about killing our family. Especially in this current economy. As a working tax payer I'm currently not get any benefits from this so call stimulus package. The banks will not even talk about refi. Good credit.Federal employee.
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81602
We are having to drop our daughter's medical insurance because we simply can't afford to keep her on our plan. With all the discussion about health care reform and a mandate for universal coverage, it is hard to believe that the system will benefit from having more, rather than fewer, people uninsured.
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81598
Bravo! My younger daughter turns 22 in January and she has almost 2 years left in college. I had been thinking about how we could cover her health insurance when she is no longer elibible for FEHB. Since other policies cover dependents until age 25, I think it only reasonable to raise the FEHB age to 25 as well. And for those folks who think a college student is lazy and exploiting the government, I say that since there is little in the way of financial support for higher education in our country (compared to other countries), this small gesture of continuing health insurance is a welcome relief.
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81597
I think raising the age of FEHB dependents to 25 is a fantastic idea. Afterall, my college student IS my dependent! And will be a college student well after his 22nd birthday. Once out of college and job searching, health coverage is a necessity and being able to continue that coverage will be a blessing. I've read the comments posted...saddened by some, disgusted by others. However, a good point was made about Family vs Self and other plans offering different levels of coverage - One, Two, Three Person Families...great idea in order to save a little money on plans??
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81593
I also hope this bill passes. I have a daughter with Type 1 diabetes who will be entering college next fall. As it is, our out-of-pocket (with good government insurance) is more than $200 per month just for her medications/insulin. I am dreading the day when she goes off our insurance during her senior year of college (if she only goes 4 years) and we will be required to pay the full amount each month. But what's our option? Without the insulin, she dies.
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81591
The Congressman needs to leave bad enough alone!
This change will make things worse! With tens of thousands of additional people covered, the carriers will RAISE the rates yet again, for everyone, including those of us with just the employee and a spouse.
SAMBA is a carrier that offers a rider that covers a child through age 25, but they charge $99 biweekly, or $214 monthly. This is much less than TCC rates, and is a viable option for anyone with a child who is turning 22.
If the Congressman wants to introduce a "SAMBA-Like" option for the children, with the parent paying more for the coverage, I can live with that, but this "free lunch" idea will cost us all more money.
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81583
Yay, Kahuana, and phooey to you, Rob. I too have a last child at home, who is struggling to complete college, works while he goes to school, and is NOT the father of illegitimate children, contrary to Rob's negative suggestions. This program would help my 21 year old son make the transition to the world of full time gainful employment, hopefully with its own insurance benefits. 22 years old, middle of your fourth year of college, is a terrible time to be dumped from a health insurance program.
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81558
Enough is enough!! When will these politicians introduce a bill requiring personnal responsibility. We are so dependent on the government to raise our children. Insurance costs will increase because you can't teach your children to take financial responsibility for themselves beyond the age of 22, this is why they remain single, have illigitimate children and live at home while you babysit.
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81553
Without a further reform this would make a serious problem in the FEHB even worse. Unlike the newer Federal benefits programs, FEHB has only two categories - single and family. The others divide it into one person, two persons, and more than two.
The FEHB imposes a heavy tax on 2-person households (including single mothers at low grades) in order to subsidize larger families. This is unfair, but I haven't been able to get Congress critters interested in correcting the problem. 2-person households where both are Federal employees can get around it by having separate enrollments, but if only one is a Fed, you're stuck with the excess cost or not having coverage.
The proposed change would tend to increase the tax on on 2-person households.
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81549
This is great!! I have a child in college whose coverage will end this year and I certainly can't afford college AND an astronomical medical insurance bill. I hope this will be benefical to those whose coverage has ended by the time this is passed. There should some clause that reaches back and allows those currently effected to be re-enrolled.
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81546
Passing this bill would be so beneficial for people. I am a single parent and when my daughter turned 22 I got her a policy downtown. I now pay $435 every 3 months and now it is going up $50. This cost is taking a big chunk out of my budget. Most kids don't get sick enough to have to have medical attention but you can't let them go without having insurance because you never know. Young people are encouraged to get a college education. They can't do this and work at a job that pays good benefits at the same time. My daughter is now 25 and a college graduate. Now she is trying desperately to find a job. She is still living at home and that is ok because she is my only one. We have to help our kids because of the way the economy is. We can't let them go with no insurance. It would be such a big help to parents if they could keep their kids on their health coverage for a while.
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81527
It's about time. I have 2 kids still in college and on my older son's 22nd birthday his health insurance terminated. Prior to that I checked with OPM and Blue Cross Blue Shield and was told that I could continue his coverage at an ADDITIONAL $500 per month. When my other son turns 22 and is still in college, that would make it $1,000 a month OVER AND ABOVE what I am paying now. There is just no way I can afford this.
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81526
Frankly I sick and tired of seeing the bonus' discussed for federal employees, sick programs, etc....why do they get these things including raises when the general public is going broke..we should all be treated the same...find a program for all of us that works. I have to pay for everything so should they
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81520
I would like to know the details of the person who got their daughter health insurance for $50 a month. Does it really cover anything? We have looked high and low - and yes at BCBS and haven't found anything reasonable in Florida. Everything is well over $100 a month - closer to $200. Not affordable.
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81492
As long as Feds pay for the entire premium cost I really don't have a problem with this. But you can't ask taxpayers to pay premiums for lazy children
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81482
The transformation to the Nanny State continues!
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81471
My son recently turned 22 and is no longer covered. He is currently on several medications that are very expensive. He will also still be attending college for another 2 to 3 years. If this could be passed it would be a big burden off of me.
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81467
My son is 23 and still in college and working fulltime I am a disabled vet and receive disability but at 22 my son was no longer covered by my healthcare at 23 he no longer counted on my disability payments but he is still considered a dependent according to FAFSA to pay for college help even though he has been trying to be independent since age 21. WE still try to help when we can but how does this even out?
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81463
Good and its about time. Age 26 would be good.
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81452
I am a single widowed working federal employee. I work very hard and long hours to provide for my three children. I do not have the extra money for private coverage for my college aged daughter's health coverage. The state of Maryland mandates insurance companies to insure all dependents up to the age of 25; however, since I am a federal employee, the government does not insure students/dependents past 22. And we received no grants, aid, or help with college because I do the right thing and work for a living. Who pays more now when my daughter is sick as we are scrapping bottom? Guess the state will have to absorb it and ultimately the tax payers huh! All this while my neighbor has 6 kids and owns two businesses and pays NOTHING for health, dental of vision - courtesy from the state of Maryland. I have paid over $9,000 for federal health and met my out of pocket deductible of $5,500. This bill makes common sense!
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81445
For those of you that have 20something kids without insurance, urge them to get a quote. There are actually very good and reasonable choices out there. My niece has blue cross coverage for close to $50/month, so she is covered for major medical. She's not covered for pregnancy care, but then she is not setup for children now anyway. There are many options for young, healthy people, so until this passes, urge your kids to get insurance. Many young people don't think they need it.
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81441
OH PLEASE pass this. I have a 21 year old living at home expecting my first Grandchild. Also have 17 year old heading for college in 2010. With rising costs of everything (including health insurance premiums) this would benefit my loving family during a time of great hardship.
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81440
Since when is a kid considered to be 22 or 25 years old? Only Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid could redine that. No wonder this congress is morally and fiscally bankrupt with these types of so-called leaders.
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81437
This is such a good idea. I am a retired fed who was surprised to learn that my son's health insurance benefits ended at age 22, before he had graduated from college. Federal health benefits are typically excellent except in this instance. It took a while to find an affordable insurance -- for a while I had health insurance for my cat but none for my son!
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81434
Passage of this bill would be a lifesaver for my daughter and family. My daughter has a cronic condition, has not been able to get a job, and cannot get healthcare on her own due to a pre-existing condition.
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81422
Finally, a bill that will help some of the taxpayers instead of the big banks, car manufacturers, and all the other fatcats getting big money from the bailout.
My son just turned 22 this month and no longer has insurance coverage. He has been attending college part time and worked part time to make ends meet and not have to take out student loans (yet). He even took a year off to work and save money for school. During this summer, he's working 60 hours a week at two part time jobs. He's no slouch or professional student and works hard.
We help some with the college costs, but he pays his own bills, including his medical copays. Having to now pay for private insurance (he can't get it through either job because he's only part time) will put a big dent in his budget. It may not seem like a lot, but it can really make a difference to students and parents alike (if anything serious happened, we'd obviously have to help him out). This bill should be a no-brainer and have unanimous approval.
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81421
Well this is just jimdandy. More benefits for federal employee families with kids (this bill), more benefits for FERS employees (sick leave proposal), more benefits for domestic partners (Domestic Partnership Act), more benefits for parents wanting kids (parental leave)....but I would like to know where is there a new benefit targeted for CSRS guys like me who can't afford marriage or kids (and may not want any)??? Let's be fair. I think there should be some sugar passed out specifically for struggling, straight, single CSRS males too. Well, afterall, I really love paying my "fair" share of other peoples taxes and benefits...the whole "system" is set to gouge single folks for the sake of benefiting others.
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81418
My daughter just graduated from college last month, and will turn 22 in the fall. Until she gets a job and obtains her own health insurance, this proposed extension of coverage will be very helpful to my family. Considering that most young adults are healthy anyway, and don't need much in the way of medical care, the cost shouldn't be prohibitive. This is one of those rare "win-win" situations for government employees.
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81417
Well there's certainly no doubt on the demographic that read this article! I find it sad that angry (and often bigoted) comments prevailed when discussing extending federal benefits for other "classes" of federal employees (new parents and gays and lesbians specifically) but when so many are supportive of this expensive alternative because they themselves will benefit. Boo-hiss to those that can't support a benefit if they themselves won't directly gain.
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81416
I think it is good. My son will be 22 in January 2010. He had coverage with his good paying job, but then lost the job due to the economy, and hasn't been able to find another job or at least one with insurance. To keep him for another 3 years would be good.
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81409
NO WAY! Have all the children you want, but STOP making me pay for your "desires." Tax deductions for you starting at the birth of your children, followed by ongoing public educational costs for your children. Now we are extending your ability to provide health insurance coverage for your children well into adulthood. When will you take responsibility for yourselves? Next thing, it will be no more Social Security as your "little darlings" can't afford to pay their fair share of social security income taxes!
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81406
This is long overdue. I have 2 sons, age 22 and 23, both working on Masters degrees. I had to go out and pick up separate policies for each at $60 per month.
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81401
I hope this passes as well! I have one child on the 5 year plan that will not be covered this fall and 2 December babies that will not be covered for their 4th year of college if this doesn't pass. With the extremely large debt they will carry for tuition, trying to also fund private health care as a separate cost is impossible.
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81394
I pray this passes, this year I had to change insurance providers in order to continue coverage for my 22 year old daughter who is a full time college student. In doing so, the cost for myself and my husband increased but decreased in benefit coverage and the cost of my daughters coverage is more then the cost for my husband and myself. Oh yea, I changed to the only benefit plan that currently offers any option to cover a child over the age of 22. If passed, this would save myself any many other families thousands of dollars.
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81390
I am a single parent and my daughter is attending college out of state. She has a medical condition that requires on going medical care. She also has part time jobs that don't offer medical care. I have done the research and found health plans which would be double in preimums compared to what I currently pay. Until she can get establish with a full time job with benefits after receiving her degree, she desperately needs coverage. I pray this bill will pass.
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81385
I am strongly hoping the bill passes. We can't afford to pay for another health policy for our daughter. She is 23 and has dropped off my health insurance(BCBS) and my husband health insurance(Tricare). I really hate her not having insurance while she is going to school.
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81383
People supporting this bill need to be sending emails to the Representatives on the House "Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia" subcommittee. Majority Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman Eleanor Holmes Norton Danny Davis Elijah Cummings Dennis Kucinich Lacy Clay Gerry Connolly Minority Jason Chaffetz, Ranking Member John McHugh, Vice Ranking Member Mark Souder Brian Bilbray
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81380
I truly hope this passes. My daughter is still in college trying to obtain masters degree, age 22, and now I have to either try to buy a separate insurance policy or another through government nonemployee plan with new deductibles and other fees, while continuing to pay for family plan for myself and other family members.
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81379
Kudos to Representative Danny Davis on this effort to extend health benefits to all children during the adult transition years to age 25! It is my prayer that both sides of the aisle would agree unanimously that this is the best coverage for helping families with escalating medical expenses.
Hands Up to a better tomorrow! Mr. Mackie
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81372
Great idea....I really hope the bill passes. My story: I ran into that problem when I graduated from College. I had an on-going illness that needed attention far longer than my 22 years. I made the decision to take an entry level job with the federal government, so I could continue my insurance coverage. No regrets at all!
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81370
This would be a benefit to me, because my child has ADHD and is unemployed and likely will have trouble obtaining and maintaining a job throughtout her lifetime. Being able to continue to carry her 3 additional years on my health plan would benefit all of us.
Please pursue this legislation.
Gloria Scoby
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81369
I agree with Danny K. Davis. I came from the private sector recently and age 25 is common in company sponsored health plans. With the cost of education so high, and parents losing jobs or forced to take a lower paying positions, many college students are working to support themselves to some extent - therefore, extending the age for coverage is an excellent solution.
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81368
It is about time. Many majors now require 5-6 years, so you have children still in college with parents trying to find coverage for them during their last year or two of college. I hope this bill is passed and passed soon!
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81366
I am in total agreement with this bill. I am a parent of a 22 year old, 20 year old, and an 18 year old. All will be in college this year and unable to get coverage independently themselves. My oldest one is pursuing a double major and entering his 5th year in order to get all the classes in. The middle one is on a medical track and expects to go on to graduate school to pursue a career as an occupational therapist. The college bills are hefty and paying for individual policies after they hit 22 is difficult if not impossible. I hope this bill does not languish in committee. This has real merit.
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81364
Great!!! Now our health insurance premium cost is going to have to go up across the board (not to mention extra cost to all of us tax payers) to provide health insurance to "professional" students or to young employees who choose not to purchase health insurance through their employer because they don't think they need it. Most colleges and universities offer basic group health insurance for students at a fairly decent price. What's next, health insurance coverage for federal employees' pets. I have 3, please sign me up! It gets expensive providing medical care for my "children".
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81359
This bill is symptomatic of the reasons why we're in the fiscal mess in which we find ourselves. Congressmen and senators garner favorable press coverage and seek public adulation by delivering Santa Claus-like benefits to favored groups, all at the expense of the U.S. Treasury. At a time when we're facing unprecedented fiscal deficits for the foreseeable future, what we don't need are the hoary, business-as-usual, largesse-dispensing ways of the "usual suspects." It's time to call for the Grinch to rein in a much-too-jolly (and spendthrift) Santa - in the form of Mr. Davis and his ilk.
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81357
This bill is a wonderful answer to our children's health care. Our daughter was aged out of the program on her 22nd birthday and we had to find a temporary solution. This is very costly to families already strapped with college expenses. Our son is now in the same situation and will lose coverage in February 2010 although he is a full-time college student. He works part-time, but has no insurance benefits. Again, without the passage of this bill, we face a hardship of finding and paying for the coverage of a college student. Dependent children should be covered as long as they are full-time students or at a minimum the age of 25.
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81356
I've always thought that the age should be extended, specifically for those children who enter the military after high school a don't even have a chance to go to college full time until at least age 22. This should help ease the burden for those who have offered their lives for our great country.
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81355
It is longer overdue. Our young people is this country are struggling to pay off college debt abd finding a job after college. They can't afford to start families or buy houses. They end up moving back home and being helped by parents that are also trying to plan their retirements. The states should also share the burden.
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81352
It would be great if the age was raised to 25. This should have been done in 2008. Right now I have a daughter (age 22) who is struggling to make ends meet. She doesn't want to go to the Dr for whatever because she still has to pay out of pocket expenses that the insurance she does have doesn't cover. $86/month is just bare minimal for her to be able to afford and because of this she has stopped taking a prescription that she should probably be taking and may be getting ready to do it with a second one. I have a 17 yr who I hope will be able to benefit from this bill if and when it is passed. Please pass this bill it will help so many young people who need this help. Thank you.
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81346
Please pass this bill! The current federal employee health plan for dependent children is a primary concern to my husband and I since we have a child that will be affected by this issue soon. It will be a great relief to us if the health plan can be extended. The current plan has always been unrealistic and does not allow dependent children enough time to independently establish themselves in the working world before no longer being entitled to something as costly and detrimental as health care benefits.
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81340
Hi Honey! I assume this bill would affect you, so I thought you might be interested in this article.
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81335
My two kids are in college and it is very hard to pay for tution and health care at the same time. In today ecomony is very hard on them or the parent to pay for health care. Since we already have the family coverage it would be nice to have my 2 kids on the policy until they finish college. Hopefully in 3 more years. Thank you.
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81334
Being Army I feel to feel the crunch and pain of the recession brought on by our esteem leaders in D.C.,yet I managed to a child through college. It was hard and painful, I held many yard sales, my child got several grants. Are federal employees special or immune? Get real!
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81308
It's about time.
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81307
That would be wonderful if it is passed. Some kids are still in college at that age, so increasing the age from 22 to 25 is EXCELLENT!!!!!
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81306
Considering how difficult it is for young people to get health benefits these days, this would be a great benefit. And at little or no cost to the government, I would think.
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