SC bill extends health coverage to adult children

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COLUMBIA, Caroline SC_South could join at least 20 other states that parents extend health coverage to their single adult children, which advocates say is essential in an economy that the collapse may not be university graduates offers of employment.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Commission Wednesday approved the bill, sending it to the Senate floor.

Sen. Joel Lourie called his bill a commonsense to provide health coverage for the largest group of uninsured residents. Over 40 percent of 18 - to 25-year-olds lack health coverage in South Carolina, according to the latest figures in a 2004 report. Lawyers expect that number to be much more severe recession.

The extent of cover unmarried adults who are still financially dependent on their parents until the age of 25. This would extend to the age of 30 years for residents who have served at least six months in the army. Under an amendment approved Wednesday, the measure would apply to all insurance companies from 1 January 2011.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell said that can be a roadblock. The Charleston Republican said the extension required for those covered by the plan of the state of health could be feasible. "But when you start to enter the private sector, you have a problem," he said, stressing that he had not seen the bill.

Currently, adults are generally charged past his parents once their education policies of the school, unless they are full-time college student. How much time students are covered depends on the company, said Ann Roberson, an executive assistant with the State Department of Insurance.


Advocates say the measure is necessary for young adults who choose not to attend college, take some time off from school, can not afford to be a full-time student or have graduated, but are always in search of work.

Although a similar bill of his death in the House last year, "because of the economy, there is a greater amount of importance," said Lourie, D-Columbia. Half of the Senate , has signed its latest proposal.

A spokesman for the health of insurers said they are comfortable with this proposal.

"Young people are usually the lowest cost to provide," said Larry Marchant, a lobbyist for the South Carolina Alliance of Health Plans, which worked with Lourie written by the current proposal.

"Whenever the government is planning a program, there will be costs," but it would be minimal, he said.

Last year, the National Conference of Insurance Legislators encouraged States to consider extending health insurance to dependent children up to 25 years if the group prefers to be an option for employers rather than a requirement.

A resolution of the executive committee of the group sent to state legislatures and Congress noted that 30 percent of adults nationally between 19 and 29 _ or more than 13 million adults _ are not insured, "even though are generally among the least expensive to insure. "

At least 20 states have passed laws in recent years to extend the benefits beyond the typical cutoff of 19 years, and two States over the age of 30, according to Troy, NY-group.