29 USC 1185c - Coverage of dependent students on medically necessary leave of absence

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 1185c.

Coverage of dependent students on medically necessary leave of absence

(a)

Medically necessary leave of absence

In this section, the term “medically necessary leave of absence” means, with respect to a dependent child described in subsection (b)(2) in connection with a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such plan, a leave of absence of such child from a postsecondary educational institution (including an institution of higher education as defined in section 1002 of title 20), or any other change in enrollment of such child at such an institution, that—

(1)

commences while such child is suffering from a serious illness or injury;

(2)

is medically necessary; and

(3)

causes such child to lose student status for purposes of coverage under the terms of the plan or coverage.

(b)

Requirement to continue coverage

(1)

In general

In the case of a dependent child described in paragraph (2), a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer that provides health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, shall not terminate coverage of such child under such plan or health insurance coverage due to a medically necessary leave of absence before the date that is the earlier of—

(A)

the date that is 1 year after the first day of the medically necessary leave of absence; or

(B)

the date on which such coverage would otherwise terminate under the terms of the plan or health insurance coverage.

(2)

Dependent child described

A dependent child described in this paragraph is, with respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with the plan, a beneficiary under the plan who—

(A)

is a dependent child, under the terms of the plan or coverage, of a participant or beneficiary under the plan or coverage; and

(B)

was enrolled in the plan or coverage, on the basis of being a student at a postsecondary educational institution (as described in subsection (a)), immediately before the first day of the medically necessary leave of absence involved.

(3)

Certification by physician

(c)

Notice

(d)

No change in benefits

(e)

Continued application in case of changed coverage

If—

(1)

a dependent child of a participant or beneficiary is in a period of coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan, pursuant to a medically necessary leave of absence of the child described in subsection (b);

(2)

the manner in which the participant or beneficiary is covered under the plan changes, whether through a change in health insurance coverage or health insurance issuer, a change between health insurance coverage and self-insured coverage, or otherwise; and

(3)

the coverage as so changed continues to provide coverage of beneficiaries as dependent children,

this section shall apply to coverage of the child under the changed coverage for the remainder of the period of the medically necessary leave of absence of the dependent child under the plan in the same manner as it would have applied if the changed coverage had been the previous coverage.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 714, as added Pub. L. 110–381, § 2(a)(1), Oct. 9, 2008, 122 Stat. 4081.)

cite as: 29 USC 1185c