Governor Strickland recently signed the FY 2010-2011 budget into law several changes were make that will effect the health insurance in Ohio
Continuation of Health Insurance Coverage
Effective Jan 1 2010 - Eliminates the requirement that an individual be eligible for unemployment compensation in order to be eligible for continued coverage under employer-sponsored health insurance plan after termination. However it requires that the individual did not voluntarily terminate employment and it was not terminated as a result of any gross misconduct;
Lengthens the time that the individual would be eligible for continued coverage from 6 months to 12 months.
Requires an employee notify the health insurance company if the employee elects continuation of coverage.
Allows the insurer to require the employer to provide documentation if the employee is seeking premium assistance or the continuation of coverage under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Health Insurance Coverage of Dependent Children
Requires health insurance plans offered in Ohio covering unmarried dependent children, extend that coverage, under certain conditions, until the dependent child reaches 28 years of age.
Adds the following two requirements:
1) The child is the natural child, stepchild, or adopted child of the policyholder.
2)After having attained the limiting age, the child has been continuously covered under any health benefit plan.
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage
Requires employers of 10 or more employees to adopt have a “cafeteria” health insurance plan – (Section 125 Flexible Spending Account) that allows their employees to pay for health insurance coverage pre-tax through their paychecks under the Internal Revenue Code.
