Governor Paterson is proposing to extend health insurance access to the children of insured parents up to age 29. He says one in three young adults between ages 19 and 29 do not have health insurance. He says allowing them to continue on a parent's health insurance is cheaper for the family and costs nothing to the state. It also makes money for the health insurance companies.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York thinks the idea is good, but wants to see the details of the plan.
Right now, the state requires that children up to age 19 be covered by the family's health insurance, and the age climbs to 23 if the child is a full-time student. Some health insurance companies have recently extended the age, as now allowed by law. This fall, Blue Cross Blue Shield extended the age to 26 if the parent's particular policy allows it.
The proposal would have to pass through state legislators before it could be passed.