Dependent Student Status Requirements Have Changed 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains a provision requiring group health employer plans that provide dependent coverage for children to make such coverage available for an adult child until the child turns age 26.

Effective January 1, 2011, dependents under age 26 are eligible to receive medical and dental benefits if they are eligible dependents of one of the following groups:

• Eligible full-time City of Chicago employees
• Eligible Police and Fire Employees Receiving City Paid Benefits At Age 55 and Before Age 65

This means that the previous requirement to submit proof of student status is no longer required for the employees described above. An employee’s date of hire is no longer a criterion for dependent eligibility.