Effort stalls to cover Tricare dependents up to age 26

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Florida Times-Union

Hours after Congress passed the Affordable Care Act last March, Defense Secretary Robert Gates promised service members and their families that the landmark law wouldn't "negatively impact" their health plan.

Turns out, though, they were excluded from a provision viewed even by many Republicans, who have fought the act at every turn, as a positive impact.

Among the law's consumer-friendly provisions that took effect Sept. 23 is a requirement that insurance companies allow parents to keep their young adults on family policies up to age 26. But Tricare, which covers about 10 million active and retired military personnel and their families, only covers children up to 21 - or 23 if they're in college.

Language was inserted into the defense authorization bill to raise the age of eligible Tricare dependents to match the new health care law. The House passed the bill, but it got blocked in the Senate by Republicans opposed to a separate measure repealing the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy for gays serving openly.

Read more: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-10-12/story/effort-stalls-cover-tricare-dependents-age-26

[CRK7376]

1. Thanks guys,

that really helps my 21 yo college son alot! Especially since next year he's a senior and folowing undergrad into Grad school. Muscians make so much money it won't be an issue, especially those in small market symphonies and orchestras....hey Richard Burr and Virgina Foxx, get off your sorry ass and help me, your constituent and his son out. Oh we're military and only count when we're invading a country without Nukes or Chemical weapons, but who have lots of oil and threaten our Pop....