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  • Benefits Eligibility
  • Health Care Reform
    • Eligibility
    • Impact
    • Frequently Asked Questions

Health Care Reform

The University is working diligently to stay abreast of changes brought about by health care reform as provisions of the law continue to be clarified.  As we determine areas in which our benefit plans and practices need to change to comply with the requirements, we will continue to update you.

One of the biggest changes as a result of these provisions is the Affordable Care Act, a federal provision, allowing that adult children up to age 26 may be eligible for health coverage under their parent’s plan. Under Ohio House Bill 1, a state provision, adult children up to age 28 may also be eligible for health coverage.

The federal law went into effect on September 23, 2010. The provision allows that existing plans may begin allowing coverage with the start of next plan year. The effective date of both provisions for OSU health coverage will be January 1, 2011. The university will have a 30-day health coverage enrollment period for adult children this fall with an effective date of January 1, 2011. Ohio State’s Open Enrollment period begins October 25, 2010.
In the meantime, children turning 23 will be automatically terminated on their birthday under their parent's OSU health coverage. University health coverage can be continued for the adult child through COBRA.

Notification of Grandfathered Status for 2011

This Plan believes it is a ‘‘grandfathered health plan’’ under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the "Affordable Care Act"). As permitted by the Affordable Care Act, a grandfathered health plan can preserve certain basic health coverage that was already in effect when that law was enacted. Being a grandfathered health plan means that your plan may not include certain consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act that apply to other plans. However, grandfathered health plans must comply with certain other consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act. Questions regarding which protections apply and which protections do not apply to a grandfathered health plan, and what might cause a plan to change from grandfathered health plan status can be directed to the OSU OHR Customer Service Center at (614) 292-1050 or service@hr.osu.edu.