As your child enters adulthood, keep AFTRA H&R informed. The age of your child and several life events common during early adulthood – going to college, getting a job or getting married – may affect your dependent child’s Health Plan coverage.
Going to college
The Health Plan covers unmarried dependent children who qualify to the end of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 21. To continue to qualify as a dependent under the Health Plan past this point, your adult child must be a full-time student. If you claim full-time student status for a dependent age 21 or older, each semester you must send a letter or transcript from an accredited college or university to AFTRA H&R verifying that the dependent is enrolled as a full-time student and attending classes. Full-time students remain eligible for dependent status until the end of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 23.
If your adult child no longer qualifies for coverage under the Health Plan due to age or a change in student status, this loss of coverage is a qualifying event that allows him or her to continue coverage under terms of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
If your dependent child is no longer able to attend classes full-time due to an extended illness or medical condition, let AFTRA H&R know, as you may be eligible to continue his or her dependent coverage under a new federal provision known as Michelle's Law. If a covered dependent loses full-time student status due to a medically necessary leave of absence, he or she may continue dependent coverage under the Health Plan for up to one year or until the end of the calendar year in which the dependent turns 23-years-old, whichever comes first. Note that the medical necessity of any such leave of absence must be certified in writing by the dependent's treating physician.
Entering the workforce
If a dependent child enters the workforce and enrolls in an employer’s group health plan, you should notify AFTRA H&R in writing within 30 days to cancel his or her dependent coverage under the AFTRA Health Plan.
Getting married
If a dependent child gets married, he or she is no longer eligible for coverage under the AFTRA Health Plan, and you must notify AFTRA H&R in writing within 30 days of the marriage.
For these or any life events that could affect your coverage, you must notify AFTRA H&R in writing. Please send this notification, along with supporting documentation, to the address below:
AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds
Attention: Eligibility Department
261 Madison Avenue, 7th floor
New York, NY 10016
For definitions of some of the terms listed on this page, visit the online health and retirement glossaries.
Questions? Call Participant Services at 1-800-562-4690.
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